Thaindian News

Jaipur, Jan 24 (IANS) Twenty-four years after “The Satanic Verses” was banned, its India-born author Salman Rushdie was again under attack Tuesday and forced to cancel his address via videolink to the Jaipur Literature Festival, triggering outrage among organisers, writers and visitors who called it an assault on the freedom of expression. Rushdie termed the situation a “black farce”.

From a cerebral gathering of celebrities and others to a volatile mix of religion and politics, Asia’s largest literary festival found itself dogged by controversy on its concluding day over the New York-based Rushdie, who initially called off his visit and then his much-anticipated video address over security threats.

“Threat of violence by Muslim groups stifled free speech today. In a democracy all get to speak, not just the ones making threats,” Rushdie tweeted. “Videolink cancellation: awful.”

After the cancellation, the festival ended on a sombre note, with participants’ spirits only marginally lifted during a lively debate about man and god at the close.

Rushdie later said he was shocked that even his video-conference address was unacceptable and termed the entire controversy a “black farce”.

He said the real enemies of Islam were its extremist leaders, and blamed the Indian government for giving into them. He also called the threat to his life “fabricated” and termed himself foolish for believing it.

“It was pretty shocking that not only my physical presence, even the screening of video image was unacceptable,” Rushdie said from London in a video conference interview to NDTV Group Editor Barkha Dutt.

Organiser Sanjoy Roy had announced Tuesday morning that Rushdie, 64, would indeed be addressing the gathering at 3.45 p.m. But uncertainty began soon after, following protests by Muslim groups at the venue, Diggi Palace. A couple of hours later, police withdrew permission and an emotional Roy announced that it was cancelled.

Minutes before Rushdie was to speak, dozens of Muslims started praying in the venue’s courtyard. They tried to downplay the connection with Rushdie’s speech but some of them threatened trouble and even bloodshed if the address by a “criminal writer” went ahead.

“We have been pushed to the wall,” Roy said.

“It is with extreme regret that after three weeks of this unfolding, fairly idiotic situation, we are having to step down in a fight for the freedom of expression, for the freedom to write, for the freedom to tell our stories.

“Earlier today, a number of organisations came to us, and have threatened violence within this venue, to all our guests who have travelled across the world and across the city. We have been informed by police that even as I speak, there are large crowds that have been gathering in parks, across the city, marching on Diggi.”

He broke off mid-sentence and walked off, apparently in tears.

A collective moan of grief went up from the audience. But they refused to disperse and stayed back to hear the concluding debate in a show of solidarity.

Police were categorical.

“In view of the resentment simmering in the city against Rushdie’s address, we have told the organisers that they cannot allow the writer to speak via video,” Superintendent of Police Vijendra Jhala told the media.

Addressing the audience at the venue’s crowded front lawns, owner Ram Pratap Singh added that he could not allow the conference to take place due to security concerns.

From despondency to disgust, reactions came in swift and fast.

“It’s a great pity because it’s all right if a certain set of verses written by Salman Rushdie were unacceptable but to react to the writer in his entirety shows tremendous immaturity,” said National Advisory Council member and activist Aruna Roy.

Eminent journalist and noted Indophile Mark Tully was equally emphatic: “The government, whether the state or central, is not coming clean…India looks very shabby as a result of what has happened. Sad day for India.”

British author Katie Hickman told IANS: “I think the organisers had no choice but to cancel the event. All of us feel terrible sadness that they were forced to take this decision.”

Anirudh, a student here, added: “If we call ourselves free, it would be wrong. It’s a very sad day.”

Echoing the views of many, India-born British author Faroukh Dhondy told a television channel that the issue had “become a political football”.

Ironically, Rushdie had attended the festival in 2007. But this time, “The Satanic Verses”, condemned by Muslims across the world and in India on grounds that it contains derogatory references to Prophet Mohammed, cast its long shadow on the lit fest - and the elections to five states beginning Jan 28.

With elections due in Uttar Pradesh, where around 20 million Muslims comprise nearly 18 percent of the population, the government appears to have given in to pressure from fundamentalists for fear of antagonising Muslim voters.