Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – September 20, 1993

I arrived at the office at eight in the morning. Then I went to Imam Khomeini's Hosseiniyeh (RA) and gave a speech in the congregation of Friday imams. I emphasized on fundamental intellectual works to strengthen people's faith and pay attention to the country's infrastructure works and recommended people to these policies.

By 11:30 in the morning I did the work and went to the [Mehrabad] airport to welcome [Mr. Narasimha Rao], the Prime Minister of India. After the formal welcome and short interview, they went to the residence and I went back to my office. Mr. Mohammadi Gilani, [Chairman of the Supreme Court] came and asked for the repair of his security car and civil works and the cases that were referred to him.

At four o'clock in the afternoon, the Indian delegation came for negotiations. The negotiation about bilateral, regional and global cooperation lasted about an hour. They asked for private time; We set tomorrow night.

At night, I went to the study center of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for dinner. Before dinner, the Turkmen delegation came to meet. They gave a report on the agreement on the connection of the railway line in the Turkmen region of the Sahara plus Sarkhs and the passage of their gas pipeline from Iran on a new route.

Before dinner and during dinner, I asked Mr. Rao [Prime Minister of India] many questions; He gave clear answers to all the questions about the situation of electricity, food, railways, nuclear industries, relations with Russia, Pakistan, China, the Babri Mosque, the problem of Tamils, the situation of religions and differences, especially Hindus. He did not eat meat and his food was vegetable. He said this is the tradition of his gay family. He complained about the American pressure and said that they messed up the arms deals with Russia.