New Delhi, Jul 17: On a day when RSS leader Indresh Kumar spoke out in support of Ved Pratap Vaidik's controversial interaction with Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief, home ministry sources indicated that the Baba Ramdev aide could be soon questioned by the National Investigation Agency in connection with the 26/11 investigations.
Kumar, who heads BJP's Muslim outreach programme, on Wednesday told a TV news agency, "I have seen media reports. A journalist is at liberty to meet anyone he wishes to. Vaidikji is deeply rooted in culture and is a nationalist. Whatever he did he must have done keeping in mind national interest."
Kumar's statement comes at a time when the government has condemned Vaidik's meeting with Saeed and and rebutted the insinuation that it may have been in the know of the journalist's engagements in Pakistan.
Kumar, however, denied that Vaidik was involved with RSS as alleged by Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday. Vaidik himself has denied that he is an RSS man.
That Vaidik is a close aide of yoga guru Ramdev has led NDA's opponents to allege that the interaction may have been arranged by the BJP-led government.
Kumar was last in the news over investigations into his links with Hindu terrorists who allegedly carried out the Samjhauta train blasts.
Sources in the home ministry say Vaidik could be questioned to know how he got access to Saeed, what he said and what he had gathered of the terror mastermind as a person. Sources said Vaidik might be questioned as a witness in connection with 26/11 investigations, but may be treated as an accused later if something adverse comes up about his meeting with Saeed.
Under law, an investigation agency can question anyone who has had an interaction with an absconding accused. NIA has been investigating the Mumbai attacks and has questioned Pakistan-born US citizen David Coleman Headley. In the case of Vaidik even Mumbai Crime Branch, which is also investigating the case, would have the right to call him for questioning.
A senior home ministry official said, "Vaidik should be questioned on how he managed to get access to Hafiz Saeed. NIA has the right to question him and a decision on this would be taken in due course. If nothing, the agency would like to know what Saeed said about various things, what are his plans, if any revealed, and what kind of a person he is. This would be valuable to investigations. He could be treated as witness as of now, but could turn an accused if something adverse is found."
Sources said Vaidik's interaction with Saeed is important as he is the only person in India outside of Kashmir who has had a one-on-one interaction with Saeed.
The Mumbai police readily sends summons to journalists who receive phone calls from underworld dons such as Dawood Ibrahim aide Chhota Shakeel and Chhota Rajan and records statements. "Here Vaidik has had an interaction in Pakistan. It's very important," said an investigator.
Meanwhile, a case of sedition was filed against Vaidik in a Varanasi court by a local lawyer. The court has posted it for hearing on July 25.
Vaidik's visit to Pakistan and his subsequent interaction with Hafiz Saeed as a "journalist" has been called into question as the "interview" has not been published anywhere. It is not known whether as a "journalist", Vaidik asked Saeed about his involvement in 26/11 attacks and various other attacks.
Comments
Add new comment