BJP, Congress trade charges over Rushdie controversy

The BJP on Monday described  the controversy surrounding controversial author Salman Rushdie as a case of “match fixing” between intelligence agencies and “jehadis” and accused the Congress of using the issue for political motives in Uttar Pradesh.

“It is a clear case of match fixing between intelligence agencies and jehadis in which the Congress government of Rajasthan played a supportive and active role,” said spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad.

Responding to the allegations of the BJP, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said,  “It is a historic statement coming from a party, which has defined the word communalism through its actions and taken the divisive politics to a new level in the country.”

Terming the BJP statement “comic,” Singhvi said “it is wo­rse than devil quoting scriptures.” Singhvi asserted that the Government of India had made it clear there was no ban on the controversial author visiting the country as he is a PIO card holder and does not require a visa.

However, it is within his rights to decide not to come to India, he added.
“Had anything untoward incidents happened then the same BJP would have then attacked Government citing intelligence inputs,” Singhvi said.

Rushdie had to cancel his visit to India for the recently concluded Jaipur Literature Festival saying he had received information from intelligence sources in Rajasthan and Maharashtra that “paid assassins” had been engaged to eliminate him.