Police Info about Threat Not True, Am Very Angry: Rushdie


New York, Jan 22, 2012,(PTI)  An ''angry'' Salman Rushdie claims he has found out that the intelligence provided to him by Rajasthan police about threat to his life if he attended the Jaipur Literature Festival was concocted to prevent him from going to India.

Rushdie took to microblogging site Twitter to vent his anger and responded to reports in Indian media that said "Rajasthan police invented plot to keep away Rushdie." Rushdie tweeted, "Rajasthan police invented plot to keep away Rushdie' I've investigated, & believe that I was indeed lied to. I am outraged and very angry."

Responding to a comment to his tweet, Rushdie said he does not know if the false intelligence information was given by Rajasthan police under instructions from someone. "Don't know who gave orders. And yes I guess the same police who want to arrest (authors) Hari, Amitava, Jeet and Ruchir. Disgusting," he said responding to a comment on whether it is the same police who now want to arrest writers for reading passages of his banned work 'The Satanic Verses' at the festival.

Rushdie also posted a link to a news report that said local intelligence officials in Rajasthan had "invented" information about the assassination plot against him to keep him from attending the literary event. His accompanying tweet read, "Here's the story. Astonishing."

The author had dropped plans to attend the literature festival saying he was informed by intelligence sources in Maharasthra and Rajasthan that paid hitmen from the Mumbai underworld will "eliminate" him if he came to India.

Rushdie had expressed doubts about the "accuracy" of the intelligence but said in a statement that it would be "irresponsible" on his part to still attend the festival and put the lives of other authors and participants in danger.

In protest, authors Amitava Kumar, Hari Kunzru, Ruchir Joshi and Jeet Thayil had read passages of 'The Satanic Verses', a controversial 1988 novel by Rushdie that is banned in India. Police are now demanding to see tapes of the recordings of the authors reading from the banned book.

  

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Comment on this article

  • anamika, Mangalore

    Mon, Jan 23 2012

    You both Ravi Hemmady and Austin Lobo are right in your angle of view. Because your sentiments haven't been questioned or hurt. If he had written the Satanic verses ridiculing Bgavadgitha and Bible , we could have find similar comments from some one who doesn't belongs to your community. Hope no need to remind what happened to MF Hussain on painting Hindu goddess in nude..

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Ravi Hemmady, Barkur, muscat.

    Sun, Jan 22 2012

    It's ridiculous, rajasthan govt. must have provided the police protection to Mr. Rushide.In a social democratic country like India must not have this type of nonsence.this was a plan to please the particular community before the election.

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Austin Lobo, Long Beach, CA

    Sun, Jan 22 2012

    It is despicable that in this country, we convert disagreement and dissent into hatred. It is sad that people who are supposed to govern this country, who provide us with security against these lunatic fringe groups, have also given up on their responsibility

    DisAgree [3] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse


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