External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today said the government has nothing to do with the visit of the Indian journalist Ved Pratap Vaidik to Pakistan and his meeting with terrorist Hafiz Saeed.

Making a statement in the Lok Sabha, when it reassembled after the first adjournment, she said Mr Vaidik did not inform the government either before or after his visit to Pakistan. She said his visit was totally personal.

She also said the allegations that it was sponsored at the behest of anyone are totally baseless and unfortunate. However, the opposition Congress, TMC and Left members continued to demand a detailed discussion on the issue and trooped into the well.

The Speaker adjourned the House till 1245 hours as uproar continued. Earlier the opposition members raised the issue during the Question Hour seeking the arrest of the journalist.

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 2 PM on the same issue. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley made a similar statement on the Vaidik – Hafiz issue and rejected the opposition allegations. However, the opposition members, who were not satisfied with the statement, trooped into the well forcing the Chair to adjourn the House.

Earlier, the House witnessed repeated adjournments as the agitating members demanded a discussion on the issue.