Jaipur Literature Festival producer Sanjoy K. Roy said in a statement that “Salman Rushdie will not be in India on January 20 due to a change in his schedule. The festival stands by its invitation to Mr Rushdie.”
Namita Gokhale, co-director of the literary festival, when contacted said: “While I deeply respect that we live in a multi-cultural society with diverse views and sensitivities, there is no denying that literary space has to be kept free, free of any kind of intervention.” When asked if they were forced to withdraw the invitation, Ms Gokhale said, “We stand by our invitation.” The five-day festival will be held from January 20 to 25.
The home ministry has also asked the Rajasthan government to keep a watch on the emerging law and order situation and take steps accordingly. Central forces will be rushed, if the state demanded, sources said.
Reacting to Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot’s opposition to Mr Rushdie’s visit, Darul Uloom vice-chancellor Maulana Abul Qasim said: “It’s a victory for democracy in India. Democracy is alive in India.”
Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi toed a cautious line, saying: “One cannot disallow a person entering the country if he has a valid visa. However, it is entirely up to the Union government to take a final call.”
Prominent artist-playwright Girish Karnad described the government as “weak-kneed” and felt that the situation “creates a tradition of harassment”.
Following Mr Rushdie’s possible absence from the opening day of the festival on January 20, the organisers replaced Mr Rushdie’s conversation with Hari Kunzru titled “Midnight’s Children” with “Do Deewane Shehar Mein” with Pavan Varma and Gulzar.
The second session — Inglish, Amlish, Hinglish: The Chutneyfication of English — is on schedule, but without Mr Rushdie. The third and final session — Shehar aur Sapna: The City as a Dream — has been rescheduled for later and Rabi Thapa, a former editor with Nepali Times and short-story writer, has taken Mr Rushdie’s place.