Author Shobhaa De on Monday rubbished claims made by former Pakistan envoy to India Abdul Basit that he influenced her to write an article in 2016 where she "advocated plebiscite" in Jammu and Kashmir after Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani was shot dead.
Ms De said the only time she met Mr Basit was during the Jaipur Literature Festival in January 2019, when the former envoy attempted to make a conversation at a "publishing party" but was "almost as good as asked to leave".
"The only time I met him, or rather he came and imposed himself and intruded into a small group was in January of this year at the Jaipur lit fest at a publishing party. He came and joined a small group, attempted a conversation, was snubbed and almost as good as asked to leave," said Ms De.
"In those three minutes, yes, he tried to bring in various issues but the only issue that actually chased him away was China. That was the first and last time I ever encountered this man," she added.
In an interview with Pakistani blogger Farhan Virk, Mr Basit had claimed he managed to influence "prominent" columnist Shobhaa De to write the 2016 article titled, "Burhan Wani is dead but he'll live on till we find out what Kashmir really wants".
Ms De called Mr Basit's statement "dangerous, malicious, and unfair to anybody who believes in the truth", adding that she is "deeply insulted and upset that he could dare to say something like that about a person who has built her career on credibility and positive good journalism for over 40 years."
Opinion: Opinion: Jai Bhim - Leave A Good Movie Alone, Folks Terrorist Burhan Wani's Father Hoists National Flag In J&K's Pulwama Porn Star's "Shout Out" To Ex-Pak Envoy To India After Twitter Gaffe 150 mg Semen In Kolkata Doctor's Body, Suspect Gang-Rape: Parents To Court 2 French Rafale Jets Collide Mid-Air, Instructor, Pilot Missing "Attempt To Save Accused Instead Of...": Rahul Gandhi On Doctor Rape-Murder G20 Nations Couldn't Do, India Did, Met Paris Accord Target Before Time: PM "Targeted Violence Against Hindus...": Vivek Ramaswamy On Bangladesh Unrest Probe Reveals Brazil Plane Crashed One Minute After Pilots Sensed Trouble Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.