Booker prize winning author Salman Rushdie on Friday accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of blocking his visit to the eastern metropolis to promote a new film based on his novel Midnight’s Children.
Rushdie`s visit to Kolkata was part of a publicity tour for the Deepa Mehta directed film which hit theaters in India today.
Rushdie claimed that Mamata Banerjee had ordered the police to block his arrival and accused the police of giving details of his itinerary to the press and called Muslim leaders to protest. The celebrated author has been facing protest over his 1998 book ‘Satanic Verses’, which was banned in India for all for alleged blasphemy.
“Ridiculous, Saugata Roy. I did not get friendly advice to stay away from Kolkata. I was told the police would put me on next plane out..The simple fact is that the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee ordered the police to block my arrival”.
Rushdie also said the literary meet organizers were lying when they say I wasn`t invited. “I have emails and plane ticket sent by them to prove it”.
Speaking to a news channel, he said, “To keep communal harmony and national integration, it is better that Salman Rushdie should keep out from this state (West Bengal) and should not come here. We should not talk more about this matter instead we should defend his not coming to this state.”