By IANS,
New Delhi: The Congress Tuesday sought to steer clear of the demand by Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband to not allow author Salman Rushdie to visit the country, saying that government takes decisions on visa after careful deliberations
It, however, added that no person can be given permission to play with religious sentiments of people.
Congress spokesman Rashid Alvi said the party respects sentiments of all sections.
“We feel that sentiments of people of any religion should not be hurt. Nobody can be given permission to play with religious sentiments or sentiments of people,” Alvi said answering queries about opposition to Rushdie’s proposed visit to the country by scholars of the Islamic seminary.
The Congress leader said that the government has to take a decision on Rushdie’s visa.
“It is our belief that the government takes such decisions after looking into all aspects,” Alvi said.
Rushdie’s proposed visit to Jaipur for the Literary Festival has come under a cloud after the Deoband seminary said Monday that the Booker-prize winning author should not be allowed on Indian soil because he has “hurt the sentiments of Muslims the world over”.