New Delhi, Jan 24: Against the backdrop of the cancellation of video address by controversial writer Salman Rushdie at the Jaipur Literature Festival, BJP today said the entire episode had exposed the “worst communal vote-bank politics” of Congress.
The main opposition party also accused the Congress of trying to impose internet censorship.
“Rushdie episode has exposed Congress for its worst communal vote-bank politics...the move to ask four authors to pack up and leave Jaipur was also an attack on freedom of speech,” BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said at a media briefing here.
“The attempt to block the video link also must be viewed from vote-bank politics angle. It also exposed Congress of its real intentions to impose censorship on internet communication,” he added.
Javadekar alleged that the Congress has “stooped very low for communal vote-bank politics” ahead of Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh as it wants to wriggle out of the controversy over the killing of members of the minority community in police firing in Rajasthan recently.
“The way some demonstrators were allowed to reach the festival pandal shows that the episode was pre-planned as the state government had claimed that there was ample security for the ongoing festival,” he alleged.
The BJP leader said his party condemns “this crass communal vote-bank politics” of Congress and wondered why the so called brigade of champions of freedom of expression is silent on this issue.
