Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, the jailed South African leader Mr. Nelson Mandela in one of his comments said that “government which uses force to maintain its rule teaches the oppressed to use force to oppose it.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: He also said, “I am not less life loving than you are. But I cannot sell my birthright, nor am! Prepared to sell the birthright of my people to be free….. The armed struggle was forced on us by the government”
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: Don’t you think Indian government is also acting like the South Africa’s imperialist rulers and using force to crush Sikh nation’s legitimate demand for freedom? Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, Indian opposition parties are determined to forge a united front to defeat Rajiv Gandhi’s corrupt government.
Ambassador: Seven opposition parties have already paved the way and agreed upon a minimum common program.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: Don’t you think Bharatiya Janta Party is likely to sabotage the unity move because its ideology of Hindu, Hindi, and Hindustan has been adopted as the official policy by Rajiy’s Congress (I) party?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, Rajiv Gandhi reportedly said that India would reconsider its nonnuclear policy if it was discovered that Pakistan had atomic weapons.
Ambassador. That’s right.
Journalist He also accused the Western powers for not preventing Pakistan from acquiring nuclear weapon.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: isn’t Rajiv making these statements to prepare the ground to publically admit that India too has the bomb?
Ambassador; Not in national interest to disclose.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 22, 1988
