Though the human right groups expressed shock over the cancelling of author Salman Rushdie’s video address at Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF), the Muslim activists assembled at the venue expressing joy and satisfaction.
“We are happy because everything happened peacefully,” says Salim Engineer of Jamat-e-Islami. The organisers claim pressure by hardliners and administration caused the situation, but Jaipur police commissioner B.L. Soni said the police assured them of security and it was their decision to cancel the session.
“We are deeply shocked. It is an open assault on freedom of expression,” says human rights activist Kavita Srivastva, general secretary of People’s Union for Civil Liberties.