Lit Fest: Will Rushdie’s video link suffer blackout?

Looks like Salman Rushdie fans are in for a disappointment. The controversial author was scheduled to address the Jaipur Literature Festival 2012 live via video conferencing on Tuesday. But sources claim that Rajasthan Government might play spoil sport and not allow the event to take place.

Earlier, the government also did not allow the Booker prize winning author to visit the festival as it feared law and order situation owing to Rushdie’s controversial status. Rushdie, who was disappointed at not being able to attend the festival, was hopeful that he would be able to video conference. But now, that too seems unlikely.

Speaking to a news channel, Jaipur Police Commissioner BL Soni said, “We don’t have have any information about any video conferencing with Salman Rushdie. We will have to legally examine it.”

Sources at the Rajasthan Home Ministry said that they would need to examine the theme and the topic of the video first to ensure that no reference to the controversial novel ‘Satanic Verses’ is made in the conference.

However, the festival organisers claimed that everything was on track and Rushdie would be conferencing live.

Jaipur Literature Festival organiser Sanjoy Roy said, “I have got no such information, will wait to say it in writing. We are in talks with the Police Commissioner.”

There has been huge amount of controversy and debate over Rushdie’s visit to the Pink City for the lit fest. Numerous Islamic groups protested against his visit and the author was asked to stay away by the Rajasthan government owing to law and order situation. Rushdie has had a fatwa issued against him in 1998 for his book ‘Satanic Verses’.

Rushdie to address Jaipur Lit Fest via video conference

Latest reports coming from Jaipur Literature Festival confirm that Salman Rushdie would hold a video conference tomorrow at 3: 45 pm.

The Booker prize winner has finally decided to address the Jaipur Literature Festival via video link straight from New York.

The organisers of the lit fest have asked the author to back off following protests from Islamist groups.

Anticipating trouble, the Rajasthan government asked the organizers to request Rushdie to call of his visit to India.

Sources state that the Rajasthan government felt that Rushdie’s visit would be a security threat for the state especially after certain radical groups raised objection over his visit.

However, now the organizers have confirmed that the writer will address a video conference to clear all air.

Meanwhile, Rajasthan Home Ministry sources said that the Literature Festival organisers have not contacted them on Rushdie using video conferencing to address the event. The sources said that the Festival organiser will have to get permission for allowing Rushdie to use the video link.

Sources also confirmed that the state government would give their nod only after Rushdie assures that he would not use any reference from his book `The Satanic Verses`.

Earlier, four authors who read excerpts from Rusdhie`s `The Satanic Verses` left the Jaipur Literature Festival amidst speculation that they may be arrested if they stayed on.