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Muslim organisations protest Rushdie's 'secret' visit

Celebrated author Salman Rushdie's 'secret visit' to India has angered Islamic organisations who have flayed the government for granting him permission to enter the country.

A ''massive'' demonstration is planned today before the Taj Mansingh hotel where the India-born author is reported to be staying after he arrived in the national capital on Tuesday.

Rushdie is said to have arrived in Delhi from Jaipur after visiting Agra and his ancestral home Anees Villa in Shimla over which he won a legal battle last year.

His arrival coincides with tonight's Commonwealth writers prize presentation ceremony at the Oberoi hotel. The organisers of the awards function have, however, stuck to their earlier statement that Rushdie had not confirmed his participation.

''We are not aware of Salman Rushdie's presence in the capital. He has not contacted us,'' said Pavan K Varma, chairman of the awards organising committee.

Mumbai-born Rushdie's The Ground Beneath Her Feet, which is about Western music and love, had won the Eurasia regional award of the Commonwealth writers prize. The book is among the four shortlisted titles for the best book award. The regional awards and the pan-Commonwealth awards are to be presented at the gala dinner ceremony tonight.

Two-time Booker Prize winner and South African author J M Coetzee, another contender for the best book award, had earlier announced his decision not to attend the function.

Rushdie holds a valid visa to visit India and all security arrangements will be made to him if he attends the awards function, said Varma, who is joint secretary (Africa) in the ministry of external affairs.

The Islamic organisations, who are not willing to buy the statements of the authorities, have called for protests against the visit.

The All India Islamic Conference activists will organise a demonstration outside the Majeedia Masjid opposite the Taj Mansingh hotel today to protest the granting of permission to the ''secret visit''.

Rushdie's Delhi-based lawyer, Vijay Shankardass, has reportedly confirmed his presence in Delhi. According to him, Rushdie is travelling with his 20-year-old son Zafar.

The government had earlier granted a visa to Rushdie, who lives in London, to visit the country, evoking sharp protests from several Islamic organisations.

Rusdhie has not visited India since the publication of his controversial novel The Satanic Verses which was banned in the country. Iran's religious leader Ayatollah Khomeini issued a 'fatwa' on his life for the book's blasphemous contents.

UNI

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