MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena on Wednesday said that the Centre could not shrug off its responsibility over journalist Ved Pratap Vaidik’s meeting with Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of the 26/11 attacks.
“Just saying that the government has nothing to do with the meeting will not suffice. Had it been a Congress Government and any journalist would have met Hafiz or Dawood Ibrahim, the BJP would have attacked the government,” an editorial in Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna stated.
It added, “Today, we are in power. So just saying that the government has nothing to do with this will not do. What is needed is to go to the bottom of the issue. There should not be any Hindu-Muslim discrimination as this is a matter of national security. If the journalist is let off, tomorrow anyone will go and enjoy biryani with Dawood, Tiger Memon and Saeed.” The editorial described the meet as “treason”. “Who gave Vaidik authority to comment on issues pertaining to India’s sovereignty and integrity?,” it asked.