Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, recent byelections in India have shown that Muslims are getting increasingly alienated from the Congress (I).
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist They even preferred BJP over Congress (I) on the plea that BJP men could get another 20 Muslims killed, but Congress (I) would massacre the Muslim en mass.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: Does it mean Congress (I) now has become more fundamentalist and intolerant than such Hindu communal organizations as RSS and Shiv Sena?
Ambassador; Not in national interest to disclose.
Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, India has condemned Fiji government’s decision to give more emergency powers to the troops and the police.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: The new decree issued by President P. Ganilau provides for wider powers of search and detention to the police.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: What moral justification India has to condemn Fiji for giving wider powers of search and detention when through draconian laws it has taken away even the basic right to life and liberty from its Sikh population? Would it not be right to tell India: “Physician”, heal thyself first”.
Ambassador; Not in national interest to disclose.
Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, former Punjab police chief, J.F. Ribeiro has been given a further extension in service till May 31, 1989, in “Public Interest” by the government of India.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: Ribeiro is the first police officer in India to get a second extension, thus, creating a new precedent.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: Don’t you think this unprecedented extensions reward for the brutal killing of the Sikh youths that Ribeiro is practicing through his killer squads and false encounters?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 15, 1988
