Question mark over Rushdie video chat

Uncertainty looms over author Salman Rushdies video address to the Jaipur Literature Festival JLF,scheduled for 3.45 pm tomorrow. Till late on Monday,the state government remained non-committal on whether it would allow the video link.

The video conference is on for now,but we are talking to the state government, festival producer Sanjoy Roy said. One of the organisers said the government had asked what format the interaction with Rushdie would be and they had replied,but the government had not got back.

Rajasthan home secretary G S Sandhu said,The Satanic Verses is a banned book and the organisers have to take permission. As of now,we are yet to receive any intimation about this video conference.

A senior officer said the government had no problems with the video link,but if Rushdie makes controversial comments,the organisers will be held responsible.