Ved Pratap Vaidik is a RSS man: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi

Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday slammed journalist Ved Pratap Vaidik over his meeting with mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack Hafiz Saeed.

Describing journalist Ved Pratap Vaidik as a "RSS man", Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday questioned whether the Indian High Commission in Islamabad had facilitated the meeting between him and Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed.

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Uproar over the reported meeting of a journalist with Hafiz Saeed continued for the second consecutive day, disturbing proceedings in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, leading to two adjournments during Question Hour.

Though the government clarified that it had nothing to do with it, and "as far as our stand is concerned, it has always been that Hafiz Saeed is a terrorist". Congress members sought a detailed statement on the purpose and motive behind the meeting with India's most wanted terrorist. Opposition Congress on Tuesday was joined by members of SP and BSP in raising the issue. 

The question that arises is, did the Indian embassy facilitate the gentleman (Vaidik) or not.  "If they helped this gentleman in any way. That's what we are curious about," the Congress Vice President told reporters.

Meanwhile, Vaidik claims, “Congress is raking up this as a controversy to put Narendra Modi government in a dock because they have never been out of power. Congressmen have no issue to raise now, so they are raising this topic,” Vaidik said.

Whereas, Hafiz Saeed, on Monday criticised Indian politicians and called them narrow-minded over the uproar in the Rajya Sabha, saying 'secular' India is unable to bear informal meeting with a journalist.

“If they call me to the Parlament, I am ready to share all records of every meeting I had in Pakistan,” added Vaidik 

Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwari has called the entire affair of vaidik as a threat to national security, saying "Vaidik statement is a fly in the face of historic facts."

Maharashtra NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik has demanded that Vaidik and his supporters should be declared anti-national and charged with sedition. Malik further added, “First the Prime Minister of Pakistan comes to India, then the BJP supporter's aide meets a terrorist. Modi and their supporters have fooled and betrayed the people of India.” He also questions, “Why is the Shiv Sena quiet on the issue.”

Reacting to the controversy, Nationalist Congress Leader Majeed Memon said, “I don't think Ved Vaidik's statement should be taken seriously, is he speaking for people of Kashmir or people of India or himself."