Mohammed Saleem Engineer, national secretary, Jamaat-e-Islami-e-Hind: We were only saying that if he comes it is our democratic right to protest against such an offender democratically, peacefully and within the (boundaries of the) law.
Controversies looming over the proposed visit of Salman Rushdie have taken a political turn. `The Satanic Verses’ author cancelled his visit owing to security reasons. This has been the root cause of a major verbal duel between the leading oppositions, Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party. Both the parties accused each other on Monday over the cancelled visit.
BJP accused the Rajasthan government of playing an "active role" in author cancelling his visit to the Jaipur Literature Festival while the Congress termed the BJP "hypocritical" and said it was playing a "dangerous game".
Speaking to media, BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad called it the Rushdie visit cancellation "match-fixing" between intelligence agencies and "jehadis". "It is a clear case of match-fixing between intelligence agencies and jehadis in which the Congress government of Rajasthan played a supportive and active role," Prasad said.
Sharply criticizing the BJP outburst, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said BJP talking about communalism or communal issues "is worse than the devil quoting the scriptures." "Its (BJP's) very identity is based on divisiveness... This is not only the pot calling the kettle black. It is utter hypocrisy of the highest kind" Singhvi said.
Meanwhile the author tweeted on his micro blogger: "Rajasthan Police invented plot to keep away Rushdie, I've investigated, & believe that I was indeed lied to. I am outraged and very angry." But Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot denied the allegation, saying his government had made all arrangements for his security after getting an advisory from the central government about a threat to his life.
Over 60,000 people, including 260 authors from across the globe, were expected to gather at the Jaipur Literature festival that started Friday and ends on Tuesday. The event is Asia's biggest literature festivals, amidst high security owing to the presence of global dignitaries. (With inputs from the Internet-AarKay)