MORE FROM VED PRATAP VAIDIK

It seems Arnab Goswami is not the only one who thinks journalist (also ideologue, political thinker, social activist and orator, according to his website) Ved Pratap Vaidik should be tried for sedition. According to a report in the Free Press Journal, a court in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh has admitted a “petition of treason against journalist Ved Pratap Vaidik over his meeting with terror mastermind Hafiz Saeed and his objectionable comment on Kashmir”.

When Newslaundry contacted Vaidik for a reaction, he said that he was not aware of any such case. Vaidik, however, said he not only stood by the interview but also thinks of it as a “great achievement for India’s national security”.

This is the second case that has been registered against Vaidik following his highly controversial meeting with Hafiz Saeed, a terrorist on India’s most-wanted list for his involvement in the Mumbai terror attacks of 2008.  Vivek Khandelwal, a Congress leader from Indore, had moved a similar petition against Vaidik in the Indore District Court

Vaidik has recently come under immense attack from a large section of the Indian media for his interview (as he chooses to call his meeting with Hafeez). Vaidik, though, has doggedly stood his ground and defended himself by saying that he met Hafeez as a journalist – a claim he has backed-up with copious amounts of self-endorsement on various news channels.

Vaidik told Newslaundry that he wouldn’t defend himself in court as he thinks, “there is no case”.

In the “interviews” section on Vaidik’s website, there is an explanation by him (written in Hindi) on the raison d’être behind the interview. In it, Vaidik accuses a popular news channel of selectively quoting him and distorting his comments.

Vaidik hasn’t released a transcript of the interview yet.

In a statement, yoga guru Ramdev – who is known to be close to Vaidik – said that Vaidik put his life at stake for the interview.