Delhi denies Modi met Dawood in Lahore

NEW DELHI: The Indian government rubbished as false and baseless the allegation of senior Uttar Pradesh Minister Azam Khan who plumbed to new depths to claim that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had met underworld don Dawood Ibrahim in Lahore at the residence of his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif during a stopover, the Indian media reported on Sunday.

There are certain statements in a section of the press that the prime accused in serial blasts in Mumbai Dawood Ibrahim was also present during Narendra Modi’s meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Lahore on December 25, 2015. “These statements are baseless unfounded and totally false,” an official spokesman said, reacting to Azam Khan’s claim, said.

While Bharatiya Janata Party attacked Azam Khan, even a Congress spokesperson attached no importance to it, saying it cannot be believed.“Prime minister visited Pakistan by breaking international laws. He also met Dawood there. Let him (Modi) deny. I will give evidence. Who all did he meet behind closed doors,” Azam Khan claimed.

BJP’s Sudhanshu Mittal asked Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to immediately dismiss the minister. “If Akhilesh means business, he should immediately dismiss him for disturbing communal harmony and bringing shame to the nation. I am shocked,” he said.

Congress spokesperson Tom Vadakkan said Azam Khan has been in public life for a long time and he should not have made the statement without substantiating it.“We may have differences with a lot of personalities but that does not mean we believe in whatever is said,” he said, adding that Azam Khan is the same person who asked UP policemen to trace his buffalo.