Former BJP leader and ideologue K.N. Govindacharya is likely to be questioned by investigating agencies probing the Ajmer, Mecca Masjid (Hyderabad) and Malegaon blasts for his reported association with Dayanand Pandey alias Swami Amritanand Dev, the alleged co-conspirator in the Malegaon blasts of 2008.
The CBI as well as the anti-terror squads (ATS) of several states are probing these blasts which were allegedly master-minded by right-wing Hindu organisations.
Govindacharya, however, told this newspaper on Sunday that his meeting with Swami Dayanand sometime in 2006-07 at the latter’s ashram in Faridabad in Haryana was a one-off and claimed that he had not been in touch with him after that. According to the probe agencies, the Govindacharya-Swami Dayanand meeting took place sometime in 2007.
Recalling the meeting, Govindacharya said that he left the ashram after he did not like what was being suggested to him. He, however, refused to divulge the details of the matter which was being discussed at the ashram and which he found unpalatable.
Govindacharya said, “I went to meet him at his Faridabad ashram but I did not like the issue being discussed”. He further said, “Maine unko namaskar kiya aur wahan se nikal gaya. Uske baad mera unse koi sampark nahin hua (I said namaskar to him and then left the place. After that, I have not been in any sort of touch with him).”
He also dismissed allegations of his association with Swami Dayanand as being “meaningless”. Moreover, he said that he had also heard that certain leaders of some other political parties too had met Swami Dayanand. Sources in the investigating agencies said, “The initial probe by the CBI and other agencies has revealed that it was over four meetings in January 2008 held at the Ma Sharika Mandir ashram in village Anangpur in Faridabad, Haryana of Swami Dayanand that the plan to launch an offensive against the minorities was chalked-out.” These meetings — reportedly held on January 9, 14, 26 and 27 in 2008 — are said to have been chaired by Swami Dayanand. Among those who participated in them were the leaders of several right-wing outfits as well as some senior retired bureaucrats, sources added. If required these persons too may also be questioned. Subsequent meetings at the ashram were held on February 6 and 13 and March 5 the same year to give a final shape to the plan, sources added.