Anger Expressed Over Renewed Sale of Rushdie’s ‘The Satanic Verses’ in India

Salman Rushdie’s controversial novel, “The Satanic Verses,” has returned to Indian bookstores, 36 years after it was banned by the Rajiv Gandhi government in 1988, The Siasat Daily reported. The book is currently available at Bahrisons Booksellers in Delhi-NCR, prompting strong condemnation from various Muslim organizations.

Maulana Kaab Rashidi, a legal advisor for Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind, criticized the sale, stating that freedom of expression should not hurt religious sentiments. He urged the government to reinstate the ban, calling the book blasphemous. Similarly, Maulana Yasub Abbas of the All India Shia Personal Law Board expressed concerns that the book mocks Islamic beliefs and could disrupt national harmony.

The Delhi High Court recently closed proceedings on a plea challenging the ban, citing a lack of evidence for the original notification. The renewed availability of the book has reignited debates over the balance between freedom of expression and respect for religious values in India.