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Aseemanand denies story, magazine firm
Swami Aseemanand, the terror accused profiled by the Caravan magazine in a cover story, has denied implicating the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a prominent Hindu nationalist organisation, or its leaders in his interviews to the magazine.
Swami Aseemanand, the terror accused profiled by the Caravan magazine in a cover story, has denied implicating the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a prominent Hindu nationalist organisation, or its leaders in his interviews to the magazine.
In a purportedly hand-written and signed letter mailed to the media, which HT could not independently verify, Aseemanand said although he did meet the article’s writer, its contents were “fabricated”, especially the portions which quote him as saying that top RSS leaders, including its chief Mohan Bhagwat, knew about and had approved of his alleged terror activities.
The magazine, which has stood by its story, said it would make the “full recorded interview” available on its site “soon”. “We are working on that right now.”
Its editors on Friday said they received threat calls from unidentified people and also faced protests by people claiming to represent a Hindu outfit.
Denying the story, Aseemanand’s letter dated February 6, “In her story, she mentions the name of RSS chief Mohanji Bhagwat, Indraji and Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi. The story she mentions in the article is totally false and fabricated,” the letter, stated.
Currently held at a prison in Ambala, Aseemanand is accused of plotting a series of explosions in 2007, ostensibly to target Muslims.
