Indian High Commission played no role in Vaidik-Saeed meeting: Sushma Swaraj

NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has informed the Lok Sabha that Indian High Commission in Pakistan was not aware of journalist Ved Pratap Vaidik’s meeting with JuD chief Hafiz Saeed and, therefore, there was no question of the High Commission facilitating the talks.

“We have received a report from the Indian High Commission (in Pakistan). The High Commission has categorically stated that it did not know about this meeting and, therefore, question does not arise about the High Commission facilitating it,” Swaraj said in the Lok Sabha on Thursday while responding to the Opposition demand for a clarification from her.

Rushing from Rajya Sabha to respond to the demands from Congress, RJD, NCP and others, Swaraj said, she had heard, “Vaidik told some news channels that the high commission knew about the meeting. We had then sought a report from the high commission.” Pointing out that she had made it clear earlier too and, “I am again saying with full responsibility that the government had nothing to do with either the visit of Vaidik (to Pakistan) or his meeting with Saeed.”

Swaraj’s statement came after the Congress-led Opposition created a din in the House, saying the external affairs minister must inform the House the exact position after Vaidik’s claims.

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge told the Speaker that “the Minister of External Affairs had promised that she would make a statement in the House after checking with the Indian High Commission the veracity of Vaidik’s claims. We want the clarification right now.”

Though parliamentary affairs minister M Venkaiah Naidu said the Opposition should show patience as the minister was busy in the Rajya Sabha, but Opposition parties stuck to their demand.