BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya claimed that in 2006, intelligence officers facilitated a meeting between Yasin Malik and Hafiz Saeed. According to him, this happened with the knowledge of then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, which has deepened political controversy.
New Delhi: BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya has made a significant claim. He stated that in 2006, Indian intelligence officers arranged a meeting between Yasin Malik, a militant from the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), and Hafiz Saeed, the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba and mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. This revelation has caused a stir in the country's politics as the meeting is reportedly linked to the knowledge and appreciation of then-Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.
Yasin Malik's Affidavit
Yasin Malik is currently serving a life sentence. On August 25, he filed an affidavit in the Delhi High Court. In this affidavit, he revealed that he met Hafiz Saeed during his 2006 visit to Pakistan. This meeting was not his personal initiative but was part of a peace dialogue process at the behest of Indian intelligence officials.
Role of Intelligence Officers
According to Malik, the objective of this meeting was to diplomatically reduce the ongoing violence and terrorism in Kashmir. Some senior intelligence officials from India were involved in this covert peace process. After the meeting, then-Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh had also personally thanked Malik. This statement now raises questions about whether this approach of the government engaging in dialogue with terrorists was appropriate.
BJP's Retaliation
The BJP states that if Malik's claim is true, it raises serious questions about the UPA government's national security policy. Amit Malviya said that this entire sequence of events makes it clear that the UPA government not only facilitated talks with terrorist organizations but later distanced itself from the entire process. The BJP has termed this "playing with national security."
Allegation of Betrayal
Yasin Malik has also accused the UPA government of betrayal in his affidavit. He stated that he had participated in the peace process but later, the same meeting was twisted and used against him. He called it a "classic betrayal" and said that after the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A, this meeting was misused to strengthen the case against him.
Malik Ready to Accept Death Penalty
In his affidavit, Malik stated that if the court sentences him to death, he will accept it with pride and honor. He compared himself to Kashmiri separatist leader Maqbool Bhat, who was hanged in 1984. Malik said that if his death brings relief to anyone, he would face the gallows with a smile.
Court Hearing Ongoing
Currently, the Delhi High Court is hearing an appeal by the NIA. The NIA has sought to enhance Malik's life sentence to the death penalty in a 2017 terror funding case. The court has asked Malik to file his response by November 10.
Life Sentence Awarded in 2022
In 2022, Yasin Malik was convicted under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). A lower court had sentenced him to life imprisonment. The court had stated that while the case was serious, it did not fall into the "rarest of rare" category, and therefore, the death penalty could not be awarded.
JKLF Ban and Pakistan Connection
Yasin Malik's party, the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), is already banned. Recently, the UAPA Tribunal extended this ban for another five years. Malik is accused of conspiring to spread violence in Kashmir along with terrorists like Hafiz Saeed, Syed Salahuddin, and Shabbir Shah.
