Salman Rushdie cancels India visit on security grounds

Jaipur, Jan 20 (ANI): Controversial author Salman Rushdie has called off his visit to India for the Jaipur Literature Festival citing security grounds.

Festival organisers read out a statement by Rushdie, which said: "For several days I have made no public comments on this issue at the request of local authorities hoping that they would put in place arrangements to allow me to come and speak."

"But I have been informed by intelligence sources in Maharashtra and Rajasthan that paid assassins from Mumbai underworld might be on their way to eliminate me. While I have doubts about these intelligence inputs, it would be irresponsible for me to come and endanger the life of fellow authors and others," Rushdie addedslamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband and various Muslim groups had opposed his visit to the country.

India-born internationally acclaimed 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.

The novel, which was banned by India, had sparked outrage in the Muslim world, including a fatwa against him by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the Supreme Leader of Iran. (ANI)