'When we ask for more power for states, we are called separatists'

•When terrorism was prevalent in Punjab, don’t you think prominent leaders like you should have stood up and spoken against it?

We conducted ourselves as per the need of the hour. SAD had a major role to play in the way the events shaped up...

•... and the way the people of Punjab were disillusioned due to terrorism ...

Yes, because the losses were enormous. We went back in time. We faced losses pertaining to economy, life and material. There were no gains.

•Common people understand this. Today in Punjab, nobody wants to talk about those days. It’s like a bad dream.

Yes...

•Democracy is a great healer.

People understand, they have their own mind.

•But people should have a democratic way of speaking out their mind. They can’t speak through the police. It can’t be an AK-47 versus another AK-47. The police haven’t wiped out terrorism from Punjab.

No, that method would have been wrong. The police could prove to be effective only when people supported them. People’s support is vital. Like in Jammu and Kashmir, terrorism is still prevalent because of public support. Terrorists get places to hide; no one complains about them; there are jungles where they can hide. In Punjab, there aren’t any jungles, so terrorists had to seek refuge in people’s homes. Thus, when people decided not to support them, terrorism was wiped out from Punjab.

•There was never a criminal case against you during any of your jail terms. The toughest was after Operation Blue Star when you were kept in solitary confinement in Pachmarhi.

All of them were equally bad — Coimbatore, Dehradun, Pachmarhi. When I was imprisoned in Coimbatore jail, the state was under Governor’s rule. When Karunanidhi took over, I was shifted to a jungle near Dehradun. Nobody was allowed to meet me. Around 1,000 cops used to guard me. I often told them that if a cop asks me to sit at a spot, I’d keep sitting there. Where would I run away?

•You were in solitary confinement in Pachmarhi, with only animals around.

Yes. Pachmarhi is the best place in India.

•I heard you had tamed some animals there.

Yes, to pass time.

•Are you an animal lover?

Yes. I am fond of trees as well. I used to ask people to bring seeds and flowering plants for me. Even the jail personnel appreciated that.

... contd.

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