I told him that he was wasting his time. Without sorting out issues, they tried to tempt me. I told him that there was no fun in talking to anyone individually. We wanted to talk as a group.

•During your talks with Bhindranwale, in 1983-84, did you try to convince him that he wasn’t following the right path?

No. Frankly, we didn’t have good relations. Since Longowalji was our chief, it wasn’t my job to start such talks.

•But you were the most recognised face in all of India. People thought you should have asserted your moral responsibility at that time.

The chief has to be followed. We were a disciplined party and followed Longowalji. Sant Longowal took a decision and got nothing in return; he embraced martyrdom.

•Did you feel that there was no point in talking to Bhindranwale?

I didn’t meet him often. During those few meetings I had with him, views were exchanged.

•Did you ever feel Punjab had gone out of control? All your candidates lost, pro-separatist parties won.

There are ups and downs in politics. But we knew that ultimately everyone wanted peace.

•When the anti-Sikh riots broke out in 1984 and reporters like me covered them, we felt this can never heal.

This speaks loads about people’s memory. Those weren’t mere riots; it was a massacre, because the Congress fuelled the killings as well as the attack on the Golden Temple. Yet, so many Sikhs vote for the Congress party.

... contd.