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Journalism of Courage
The government today asserted that it played no role in the decision taken by Salman Rushdie to cancel his visit to the Jaipur Literary Festival,saying there was no restriction on his coming for the event that began today.
Calling off the visit is Rushdies personal decision and the government has nothing to do with it… Who has stopped him?… He does not need a visa to come to India, party general secretary Digvijaya Singh told reporters in Lucknow,adding that there is no law to stop the author from visiting the country.
Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said: The party and Congress-led UPA government stand steadfast in their absolute commitment to freedom of expression… certain agencies giving certain inputs does not mean that the government of India has been working from behind to stop his visit (there were reports of officials warning of a security threat). The government has not changed its stand and decision that there is absolutely no restriction on his visit.
He added that that it was up to an individual whether to visit a place or not and his choice should be respected.
At the same time,Singhvi disapproved of some Indian writers reading out from Rushdies banned book The Satanic Verses at the event,saying law will take its course if some people resort to such acts either to shoot themselves in the limelight or to create a provocative atmosphere.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot expressed satisfaction that the confusion prevailing over Rushdies visit had ended. There was resentment among the people of minority community and we talked with them. We also spoke to the organisers and I am happy that the organisers made efforts to resolve the matter, he said.
Deoband Vice-Chancellor Maulana Abul Qasim Nomani welcomed Rushdies decision,adding that the author should never be allowed to set foot on Indian soil. It is a victory of democracy because some Muslim organisations,including Darul Uloom Deoband,had opposed the visit to India in a democratic way, he added.
Other Muslim groups like Jamat-e-Islami Hind and Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind said the Rajasthan government should have been more sensitive to the demands of the people and refused to allow Rushdie to participate in the event. We welcome the decision,but are disappointed by the attitude of the Rajasthan government, said Jamiat Ulema-e-Hinds Maulana Arshad Madani.
With the author not
coming,their protest no longer stands,the Muslim groups said.
(WIth PTI,Muzaffarnagar)
