Lahore: The meeting of journalist and Baba Ramdev associate Ved Pratap Vaidik with 2008 Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed here has created a furore in the Indian political circle.
Commenting on the hullabaloo, the Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief said he meets everyone with an open heart, "whoever wants to meet; regardless of nation, belief or religion".
“The row in the Indian Parliament over a journalist's meeting with us shows the extremism, narrow mindedness of their politicians. Utterly Shameful”, he added.
Saeed, on microblogging website Twitter, revealed that when Dr Vaidik asked him if he would protest Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Pakistan, the 26/11 attack mastermind replied his organisation does not participate in “such politics & protests".
The duo discussed “how all 26/11 evidences provided by India have been rejected”. The JuD chief further said that he asked Vaidik “why India does not respect Pakistani courts?”
The journalist had on Monday defended himself by saying he only wanted to analyse the Pakistani terror group leader's mind to "perceive his motivation about India".
Asked what was his objective in meeting the Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief who is wanted in India for the Mumbai attack, Vaidik told a news channel: : "The objective was very simple. I am a journalist and I really wanted to know him. I wanted to know what kind of a man he is and why he committed heinous crimes against India. I wanted to analyse his mind."
He said he has been meeting all sorts of people as a journalist, including those who dislike India.
"In Sri Lanka, I used to meet even worst India-haters. I listen to everybody's argument and I try to cut down their argument and persuade them," Vaidik said.
He had categorically denied any link with the Vivekananda International Foundation, to which National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is associated.
"You are totally mistaken. I have never been a part of Vivekananda International Foundation. In fact, I have a grudge against them as they never invited me to deliver a lecture. I am not part of any organisation of the BJP or any other political party," he said.
Vaidik had downplayed the controversy over his meeting with Hafiz Saeed, saying: "As a journalist, nobody is my boss, I follow my own conscience."
