Jammu, Jan 11 (ANI): Playing down the row over visit of controversial author Salman Rushdie to India, the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said Rushdie had visited the country in the past as well.
Abdullah claimed that vested interest have raked up the issue to exploit it for political purposes in the upcoming elections in the five states.
"Salman Rushdie has come before this also. Why suddenly is Salman Rushdie becoming an issue? Clearly there are those who are seeking to exploit this for political purposes given that there are elections in five states," said Abdullah.
Abdullah said that it was unnecessary to blow the issue of Rushdie's visit to India out of proportion.
"We underestimate the intelligence of Indian Muslims when we try to raise issues like this which have no bearing on day to day concerns of Muslims. I don't believe that there are many Muslims in India for whom visa to Salman Rushdie will be an election issue," added Abdullah.
An influential Islamic seminary, Darululoom Deoband seminary, has urged the central government to deny visa to Rushdie, who would be attending a literature festival later this month.
India-born internationally acclaimed author, who was threatened with death from Iran over his 1988 book 'The Satanic Verses', is due to speak at the seminar in Jaipur. (ANI)
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