Journalist! Mr. Ambassador, some press reports suggest that President Zail Singh is considering dismissal of Rajiv Gandhi for his involvement in 23 million dollar scandal.
Ambassador: That’s right. : Journalist: But Congress (1) leaders are threatening to impeach Zail Singh for asking the government to send him details of the Bofor contract.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: Does it mean Rajiv Gandhi can indulge in corrupt practices and pocket millions of dollars without anybody questioning him? What would you call such—a system a democracy or a robber’s paradise?
Ambassador; Not in national interest to disclose.
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Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, eleven Punjab legislators belonging to the Unified Akali Dal have been unseated by the Punjab and Haryana High Court for violating the antireflection law. Ambassador; That’s right.
Journalist: But the Jammu and Kashmir High Court had refused to unseat Mr. G.M. Shah and his friends when they defected from the National Conference to form Ministry with the support of Congress.
Ambassador; Very correct.
Journalist: Does it mean antireflection law is violated only when defections go against the interest of Congress (I)? Does it not prove. That Indian judiciary is totally a slave to the executive? Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
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Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, Indian government has declared an amnesty for illegal deposits of the Indians in foreign banks. Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: Now businessmen and middlemen will be able to take to India millions of dollars that they had saved by evading taxes or received as kickbacks for arranging contracts with foreign firms. Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: Don’t you think it has been done to make it possible for Rajiv Gandhi to take home his deposits in the Swiss banks? Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 8, 1987
