NSA Doval's Son Shaurya Ends Silence On Conflict Of Interest Claims

New Delhi: National Security Advisor Ajit Doval's son Shaurya Doval, director of India Foundation, a prominent think tank which has four senior ministers as its directors, spoke for the first time on a report by news website The Wire alleging his foundation pitched a conflict of interest and was using its influence with the government for lobbying.

Mr Doval, who was on The NDTV Dialogues this week to discuss demonetisation, said, "The accusations about our foundation... in political debates people can say anything what they want, that's democracy but the evidence of that gets proved either in the court. All those who make accusations must logically pursue them in the court of law and substantiate it or if that's not the way... that if you are fighting a perception battle, then take it out to the people and prove to the people the perception."

When asked about whether the opposition has a point when they raise the issue of conflict of interest for Amit Shah's son, Jay Shah or in his case, like the BJP had done with the Congress and Robert Vadra, Mr Doval responded by saying, "The BJP took the matters - even in the case of Jay Shah - it took it to the Court of Law. It said okay we filed a defamation (suit), let's argue it in the court of law, let's not fight only a perception battle but also fight it in the court of law. So as far as the BJP is concerned, it has no problem in going to take all these cases of corruption, and the opposition rightly should. If they believe that the BJP is corrupt, they should take it to the court of law, the courts are there for this matter."

However, Mr Doval did not confirm or deny whether he was going to take the legal route when asked. "(The) point that I am trying to make is that whatever we do in the court of law is one way of proving it and those who are convicted must bear the punishment under the law," he said.

The NDTV Dialogues airs on NDTV 24x7 at 9:30 pm on Sunday.