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| Uncertainty looms over Salman Rushdie's visit to Jaipur Fest | | | Agencies
JAIPUR, Jan 17:As Assembly elections nears, the Congress ruled Rajasthan government is caught between orthodox Muslims and human rights activists
There is a big question mark over the participation of noted author of Indian origin Salman Rushdie in the Jaipur Literature Festival 2012, starting here on Friday in the wake of protests from orthodox Muslim groups and the Rajasthan Government's apprehension over law and order situation. There were no protests here when Mr. Rushdie participated in the event in 2007.
Though everyone involved in the five-day festival, which has become a big draw for writers, publishers and literature lovers the world over, is either being diplomatic or politically correct in their utterances, the organizers have already removed Mr. Rushdie's name from the list of participants and come out with a one-liner — “Salman Rushdie will not be in India on 20th Jan. due to a change in his schedule. The festival stands by its invitation to Mr Rushdie.”
Now January 20 happens to be a Friday and the Muslim groups, which are adamant at stopping Mr. Rushdie, have given a call to the believers to assemble at the city's Jama Masjid for protests after the Friday prayers.
Gehlot plays safe
The Congress Government in the State, which appeared to be wishing away Mr. Rushdie from the outset, has taken the stand that if his arrival creates a law and order situation, then it, is a matter of concern. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, always cautious about the spoken word, has limited himself to airing his fears about the smooth conduct of the otherwise immensely popular event.
Curiously enough the Congress party in Rajasthan was only too quick to join the bandwagon of protesters against Mr. Rushdie. The State party chief Chandra Bhan supported the demand of Muslim groups while the party MP from Jaipur Mahesh Joshi asked the Government to stop Mr. Rushdie. The State BJP too has asked the Government to stop Mr. Rushdie.
Mr. Gehlot, who is at present in Delhi, met Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram. It is obvious that both discussed the socio-political as well as the law and order implications of Mr. Rushdie's visit — especially in the context of the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh and other States. The Rajasthan Government, it is being pointed out, has already made the Congress Party apologetic in Uttar Pradesh with the recent deaths of nine Muslims in police firing in Gopalgarh.
Mr. Gehlot had discussed the matter with Salman Khurshid, Union Minister for Minorities Affairs, the previous day in Delhi.
“We have no official communication on Mr. Rushdie. Some Muslim organisations had submitted a memorandum to the Government requesting to stop Mr. Rushdie on account of his 'objectionable' comments on Islam in his books. I have intimated their sentiments to the Centre,” Mr. Gehlot told media persons in Delhi during the day.
When asked about the prospects of Mr. Rushdie joining the stellar company of authors this time Rajasthan Chief Secretary S. Ahmad said he was not “in the know”. “You please ask the organisations. They will be able to tell you,” he said when this Correspondent contacted him.
Literature lovers disappointed
“This is an opportunistic stand. The Chief Minister has given in too easily,” charged Kavita Srivastava, general secretary of People's Union for Civil Liberties, Rajasthan. Ms. Srivastava, along other human rights activists staged a rally at Jaipur Ambedkar Circle here on Tuesday in protest against attempts at stopping Mr. Rushdie.
“We condemn such protests against Mr. Rushdie's visit. The Chief Minister has gone all the way to Delhi to say that Mr. Rushdie is a security risk. This is just a clumsy excuse to stop him,” Ms. Srivastava said.
“Most of the opposition to Mr. Rushdie from the Muslim groups is based on misinformation. Muslims can protest against the visit of Mr. Rushdie though the protests appear to me as a diversion from the basic issues facing the Muslim community in Rajasthan. I wish Jaipur Muslims knew their priorities,” observed M.Hasan, Muslim intellectual and former Professor at the HCM Rajasthan Institute of Public Administration. “I have a strong feeling that the coming elections in UP has got something to do with all this,” noted Prof. Hasan, one of the regulars at the Festival.
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