CM angry, says claim baseless

Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot Sunday dismissed writer Salman Rushdie's contention that the state police had lied to keep him away from the Jaipur Literature Festival.

Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot Sunday dismissed writer Salman Rushdie's contention that the state police had lied to keep him away from the Jaipur Literature Festival.

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"It is baseless," Gehlot told HT. Even before the literature festival, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) had information of threat to Rushdie's life. "This information was shared with the Rajasthan government as well as with the organisers of the festival," he added.

A state government official who did not want to be named said, "It was the IB input on the basis of which the organisers advised Rushdie not to attend the festival. The state government did not speak or ask Rushdie to come to Jaipur."

With inputs from agencies.