Ved Pratap Vaidik triggers controversy with ‘independent Kashmir’ remark

New Delhi: Journalist Ved Pratap Vaidik who triggered a controversy after meeting 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed is in trouble again. In an interview to Pakistan’s Dawn News, the freelance journalist said that if Kashmiris in both India and Pakistan were ready, then Kashmir could be made an independent country.

However, later during the interview, Vaidik said "I have always been in favour of azadi (freedom) for the people Kashmir..Azadi yes and separation no. Kashmiri people should get the azadi same as the people of Delhi," he said.

A major controversy erupted over a meeting between Vaidik and Saeed in Pakistan, with the Congress targeting the Prime Minister’s Office over the meeting, alleging its “direct involvement” and asking the Narendra Modi government to “come clean” on the issue.

Read: Turmoil in Parliament over scribe's meeting with Hafiz Saeed

Despite the government informing Parliament that it had nothing to do with the journalist “directly, indirectly or even remotely” and asserting there was no sanction from its side for the meeting, it faced flak from the Opposition, and the Rajya Sabha saw two adjournments over the issue. The Modi government also denied that there was any “Track-2 or Track-3 diplomacy involved”.

Using the controversy to target India, Jammat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed tweeted: “Sadly, so called ‘Secular’ India is unable to bear an informal meeting of her journalist, Mr.Videk (sic); another eg of Indian narrow mindedness. Row in Indian parliament over a journalists meeting with us shows the extremism, narrow mindedness of their politicians. Utterly Shameful.”

While Mr Vaidik rejected Congress suggestions that he may have acted as the government’s envoy, saying he was “nobody’s envoy but my own”, the Congress kept attacking the PMO, claiming that the “PMO is involved in sending him (Vaidik)” to Pakistan.

Read: Hafiz Saeed, Ved Pratap Vaidik's meet in Pakistan shocks House

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

"The question is did the Indian embassy facilitate the gentleman (Vaidik) or not. We are curious to find out if Indian embassy has facilitated this event.

"If they helped this gentleman in any way. That's what we are curious about," the Congress Vice President told reporters here.