Nagpur: Senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ideologue and former spokesman M G alias Baburao Vaidya is all set to visit Pakistan for a two-day journalism symposium next month, albeit as a journalist in individual capacity.

"I have accepted the invitation extended by South Asian Free Media Association (SASMA) through its Delhi-based president K K Katyal for the August 10-11 symposium," Vaidya said on July 27.

"However, I would be participating in my individual capacity as a journalist and not as a representative of the RSS," he said.

The SASMA has invited a 45-member delegation including some journalists and Members of Parliaments to participate in a symposium "Journalists and Experts Conference: Understanding, Confidence Building and Conflict Resolution", to be held at Islamabad. Imtiyaz Alam from leading Pakistan daily 'Jung' is the secretary general of SASMA in Lahore.

Vaidya, who was chief editor of pro-RSS Marathi daily 'Tarun Bharat' till 1983, said since his name was proposed, he was extended an invitation and "accordingly I have accepted the invitation only today".

Katyal had indeed written to RSS chief K S Sudarshan last week asking him to visit with the delegation, Vaidya said, adding, "But there was no exclusive invitation to RSS. He (Sudarshan) declined to go simply because the invitation was not meant for RSS but for journalists and experts."

"I do not intend to carry any message from Sudarshan during visit to my Pakistan," Vaidya clarified.

PTI