Authors quit fest,Rushdie says cops ‘cooked up threat’

Rajasthan Police deny charge,say had credible information of threat.

The Salman Rushdie row took a turn for the worse today as he accused the Rajasthan Police of cooking up the “threat” to keep him away from the Jaipur Literature Festival. As the police denied the charge,insisting they had “credible information” of the threat,four authors against whom a police complaint had been filed for reading out from Rushdie’s Satanic Verses at the festival left the meet on Sunday.

Rushdie had attributed his decision to cancel a visit to the litfest to reports of plans to target him. Quoting a newspaper article,the writer tweeted today: “Rajasthan police invented plot to keep away Rushdie’. I’ve investigated,& believe that I was indeed lied to. I am outraged and very angry.”

In response to a question about who ordered such a ‘plot’,Rushdie tweeted: “Don’t know who gave orders. And yes I guess the same police who want to arrest Hari (Kunzru),Amitava (Ghosh),Jeet (Thayil) and Ruchir (Joshi). Disgusting.”

The four writers had read out an article on Rushdie on Friday at the Jaipur litfest,which contained passages from The Satanic Verses,and today they said they were opting out of the festival. The organisers,who had stopped them from completing the readings,refuted reports that they were “asked to leave”.

Denying they had communicated with Rushdie in any manner,Rajasthan Director General of Police (DGP) H C Meena told The Indian Express that no information was exchanged between the state police and the writer over the festival. “Till date we have not communicated in any way — telephone,fax or email — with Salman Rushdie. So I do not understand his statement,” Meena said.

The festival organisers,however,said they were shown an intelligence file about the threat to Rushdie a day before the fest began and the same had been communicated to Rushdie.

A senior festival member stated,”It is unfortunate that Salman Rushdie could not come and we understand how he feels. But the security of all the authors and those who attend the festival is paramount.”

Story continues below this ad

At the festival today,one of the organisers,Namita Gokhale,said it was wrong to blame them. “What is most hurtful is that the festival has over 265 authors and writers who are being sidelined due to this …the police and the state government have been cooperating with us… we have the responsibility to ensure the safety of those who are attending the festival,” said Gokhale.

Incidentally,Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday stated that the state government had no problem with Rushdie’s visit. “We had begun preparations for Salman Rushdie long ago and these security precautions are still in place. When there are intelligence inputs and advisories from the central government,we have to take them seriously and take appropriate steps,” Gehlot said.

However,sources at the Centre say they had nothing to do with the entire affair.