Rushdie allowed to address Jaipur Lit Fest via video

In a new twist to the controversy surrounding Salman Rushdie's video conference at the Jaipur Literature Festival, sources on Tuesday said the state authorities will allow him to speak but with certain conditions.

Sources said that the Festival organisers have given a written insurance to the state authorities that Rushdie will not speak on or about 'The Satanic Verses'.

The sources added that the state administration will control Rushdie's video conference link.

Rajasthan Home Secretary GS Sandhu said, "If we get assurance in writing that Rushdie will not talk anything about his book we will allow them."

Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley had on Monday commented on the controversy and said, "Intelligence and police have given false information of threat to life of a writer by inventing non-existing threats. Congress in Rajasthan have bowed down to the demands of hardliners. It seems there is a match fixing between Congress and hardliners. Salman Rushdie came to India when BJP was in power, at that time there was no threat. Government could have given protection to him."

Speaking on India at 9, eminent Jurist Soli Sorabjee said there is nothing illegal in video conferencing with Salman Rushdie and it should be allowed.

Author Ruchir Joshi on Monday said that he does not regret reading out extracts from Salman Rushdie's banned book 'The Satanic Verses' at the Jaipur Literature Festival. Joshi said that he was even ready to do it again if required.

"There's nothing in the law that prohibits people reading from a banned book," Joshi said.

"Rushdie's constitutional rights are being violated by fringe groups," he added.

Ruchir Joshi left the Jaipur Literature Festival amidst speculation that he may be arrested if he had stayed on.

Joshi, along with three other authors Hari Kunzru, Amitava Kumar and Jeet Thayil struck a defiant note by reading from the banned book on Friday after Rushdie called off his visit citing death threats.