New Delhi: The Darul Uloom Deoband on Tuesday reiterated that there must be a ban on celebrated novelist Salman Rushdie from coming to India.
Abul Qasim Nomani, the vice chancellor of Darul Uloom Deoband, said that as Rushdie had not yet apologised, a move to ban him in India was a welcome step.
"If Rushide apologises, then only we can decide whether he can be allowed to come to India," said Nomani.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan Congress chief Dr Chandra Bhan also said that Rushdie must not be allowed to come to India.
"Rushdie has hurt sentiments of many Indians. He must not be allowed to come to India," said the Rajasthan PCC chief.
Earlier, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot expressed security concerns over Rushdie's visit to the Jaipur Literature festival from January 20 to 24. Gehlot met Home Minister P Chidambaram over the issue and acknowledged that there were security implications, saying they hope to come to an understanding with the festival organisers.
Gehlot told the Home Minister that the people of Rajasthan "do not want" Rushdie to come and had made representations to the state government about their feelings.
"I don't have any official information about whether Rushdie is coming or not. There is no official communication to us... There is a reaction among the locals, they don't want Salman to come," Gehlot told reporters after the meeting.
Gehlot said his Chief Secretary was in touch with the organisers of the literature festival.
"No state government will want a law and order situation. I have informed the Centre about the prevailing sentiments," Gehlot said.
Gehlot said his Chief Secretary was in touch with the organisers of the literature festival.
"No state government will want a law and order situation. I have informed the Centre about the prevailing sentiments," Gehlot said.
Meanwhile, festival producer Sanjoy Roy has clarified that Rusdhie will not be in India on Friday, the opening day of the festival, but the festival stands by its invitation. "Salman will not be in India on the 20th as per his new schedule. The festival stands by its invitation to Mr Rushdie," Roy said.
The clarification came after media reports that the Rajasthan government persuaded organisers to ask Rushdie to stay away, citing protests from radical groups.
Rushdie was scheduled to speak on the January 20 and 21 at the Jaipur Literature Festival, but his scheduled events are no longer mentioned on the festival's website, though this could also be to avoid trouble.
Festival Director Namita Gokhale told CNN-IBN, "Salman Rushdie is attending the Jaipur Literature Festival, but he will not be there on the opening day."
The author had earned the wrath of Muslims worldwide due to the alleged blasphemous content in his novel "The Satanic Verses" which was published in 1988.
(With Additional Inputs from PTI)
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