Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, according to B.B.C. report, fifteen persons in police uniforms decamped with five crore and seventy lakh rupees from a bank in Ludhiana city of Punjab State. Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: They reportedly inspected the guard posted at the bank, locked the bank staff in a room and then decamped with the rich booty. It is considered to be the biggest dacoity in India’s history. Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: Was it really a dacoity or was it another mock operation like the mock hijacking to tarnish the image of Sikhs? Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
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Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, Punjab Chief Minister, Mr. Surjit Singh Barnala is fast losing support among his party and cabinet colleagues after his excommunication from Panth by the Five Priests. Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist; His remaining supporters are also likely to desert him in view of Barnala’s sinking ship.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: Don’t you think Barnala’s fall at this stage would seriously jeopardise Delhi’s game? Won’t Delhi try to prevent such a humiliation every by hook and crook?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, Bharatiya Janata Party militants staged a demonstration outside the Union Home Minister’s residence protesting against violence in Punjab.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: They demanded dismissal of the Barnala Ministry and imposition of President’s rule in Punjab.
Ambassador. Very correct.
Journalist: How come Bharatiya Janata Party militants or another opposition party workers did not demonstrate when C.R.P.F. brutally gunned down Sikhs in Gurdwara Bangla Sahib? Why don’t they demand action against the perpetrators of violence against Sikhs? Is it because they consider it a patriotic duty to kill Sikhs? Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 20, 1987
