Salman Rushdie compares Imran Khan to Qaddafi
Imran Khan had pulled out of the function earlier in the week after learning that Rushdie too would be present, saying the writer had caused 'immeasurable hurt to Muslims across the globe'.
India Today's Editor-in-Chief had issued a statement, calling Khan's move deeply regrettable.
On Saturday, when Rushdie took to the stage at the Taj in New Delhi, he made it a point to highlight the absence of the former cricketer from the event. "I have to thank Imran Khan. I was going to speak at a less important session. I thank him for this promotion and for vacating this spot."
His tirade against the Prime Ministership-aspirant did not stop there, "Here he is trying to placate Mullah and placate Army while presenting himself as the acceptable face of Pakistan."
"We don't need to give Imran Khan more publicity, which he needs."
Rushdie then went on to compare Khan to deposed Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi, "Have you noticed the physical resemblance between Imran and Qaddafi? Could cast as a slightly better-looking Qaddafi."
The author of controversial book 'Satanic Verses', he recalled Khan's young carefree days, suggesting perhaps that the political leader had been born again, "I would place a substantial bet that he has not read it (Satanic Verses). When Imran was a playboy in London, he was called 'Im the dim'."
He then went on to comment how freedoms of expression were under threat. "In our time, essential freedoms are in danger of society. In India also, not just egalitarian states. Public apathy is also damaging.”
In a veiled jibe at Khan, who had decided to not attend just because of Rusdhie's presence. “Ideally, a writer should not be the subject. Should be the observer, not the observed."
Public agrees with Khan's decision
In an Express Tribune poll, 76 per cent of the voters (1,793 voters) agreed with Imran Khan’s decision to pull out of the Conclave.
COMMENTS (166)
Love you imran Khan and loved what you said.it was the voice of millions of muslims.may Allah bless you.
We Hate u Rushdie and now we hate you more as you have proved once again that our Hatred was totally right towards you.
Puppets like Rushdie are raised , petted and Fed by west and All in the name of " Freedom of Speech".
What if the same is exercised by Ahmadi Najad to describe Holocust a DRAMA....?
Eh, Imran Khan used Rushdie as a scapegoat to get public approval in Pakistan. Khan seems like a liberal man, I refuse to beleive that he is so incredibly narrow minded and idiotic - it was just a ploy, i don't know which is worse though, being conservative or being a typical cunning politician.
Proves Rushdie wants IK to become PM of Pakistan.
Someone should really collect that "Millions" reward that was offered for making this Shataan disappear sooner than his time in ths world
Have you noticed how much this Rushdie guy resembles Satan. Could cast a slightly better looking Satan.
@Sobriquet: actually rushdie wrote the book at a time when there was a wave of anti islamic feeling sweeping the west, i believe it was at the time of the iranian revolution and the american hostage taking, the man is a publicist the book is a satire of islam and the prophet,, to some people this is not a big deal,,, but to millions it is,, and thats something people who have left religion behind will never understand,,, in reality the book is rubbish and trivial in nature but that's not the point, to the religious minded...
Good decision by IK. We, Pakistanis feel i am the only one who can pass the judgement against anyone. IK boycott the events. It's good decision. Now the people are questioning Why he boycotted? IK should attend the event and answer him in the event. LOLZZ The reality is we are not happy in any act of others especailly IK's. Thousands of articles are against IK and PTI, which give me a chance to think about the politics of PTI. And today i can say this is the only party in Pakistan can do something for Pakistan. Thanx guys to change my mind from PPP, PMLN, MQM to PTI.
@samir siddiqui:
Bravo, samir siddiqui! Very well said!. IK could have won the day & he could have put across his point of view forcefully but he let the opportunity go.
@shaheen1shaheen2: please keep your opinions on our status in india to yourself. lets focus on living happily and not on how you guys have a better life and we dont..we have our problems and we have our strengths that probably you dont living in a singular society. so lets just say we both are happily placed in the countries of our choice by God's will..
Why should have Imran Khan attended? That was his right. The same way Rushdie is gaining 'publicity' by making a big deal out of nothing. Imran doesn't care about such petty issues. He does not need to defend himself. It was his belief, the same way it was Rushdie's 'right' to write that book.
@Mrs Khan: Goodness me! You need a healthy dose of reality. Where did you learn to think like that?
@Yasir Ashfaque: That is exactly what all PTI walas do. That is why they are called trolls!
Oh my god. This is bigger blasphemy than the one already committed. Salman Rushdie surely deserves death now :)
Now this is getting really interesting. Lets see what Col. Imran Khan will say :)
Guys, chill. Salman is world recogonised author, and Imran is a world recogonised sportsman.So no point running any of them down. certainly not SR, who has so much intelectual ability. Imran should not have run away from an intellectual discusion. Somehow from the overwhelming anti SR comments here, it seems that pakistanis do hate SR a lot whether they appreciate Imran or not. So people, Just chill. let hate get dim and dimmer. and let freedom of speech prevail.
If Rushdie has guts he should criticize people who are there not those who are not present. In fact if he really has guts and hates Muslims so much he should criticize Ahmadinajad even behind his back lol rushdie should be ignored.. not features in our newspapers.
He seems to be suffering from a chronic inferiority complex. Why take cheap shots at Imran?
This Means how important Imran Khan not only to the Pakistan but also to the world. That was a sort of slap on the Rushdie's face by the Great IK.
Yup, we expect this from the disgraced man (Salman Rushdie).
@Hamza: What about the Cricket stadium you are having in Gaddafi's name
@Obaid: Local muslim population cried when Sir Rushdie wanted to be part of Litrature festivcal in india but what happend now to them., it is just a political gimick understand why cannot now they bark when Rushdie landed in india [ since election got over in UP, Punjab, UK ] not even muslim loving Congis bothered about it issues. so thumbs up to Mr. Sir. Rushdie people will see the hypocricy of Congis
Imran khan is not "Im the Dim" anymore. He could have easly stayed away from that conference in a quiet way. He took a deliberate decision to go to the media guys to tell the world why he is not going. He knows that will get him votes in the election from the Pakistani populace which gets easly swayed by people doing things to "protect" their religion. He has made fools of every body. This act proves that Im is not dim anymore but Im is the cunning fox who understands the psychology of his voters.
Wow, what an attention seeker! IK did the right thing. Rushdie stooped so low as to compare IK with Gaddafi. Instead of talking on the topic, he passed personal remarks against Imran. UP's CM Yadav and Omar Abdullah also boycotted the event.
Rushdie is an aunt compared to Imran. He hasn't done anything productive like Imran Why even give him notice he doesn't deserve it.
Im the dim is the only informative piece, else Imran,s decision not to go there is much appreciated, regardless whetever any one says about IMRAN. This nonsense Rushdie still waits for Khomenini's fatwa to have the final fate.
hey guys, surf through the channels.Have you heard Zakir Naik criticize hinduism and even insist that the Prophet is actually an Avtar of a hindu God.!!!!!!!!!!!What not he says just so to convert and also to impress poor muslims while he holds them in rapt attention by just puking out stuff from Wiki.The hindus cant be bothered as nothing is blasphemous .Those who believe can voice their views and those who dont also can voice their views ..A good religion will withstand it if taken in the right spirit.
I don't know how does the satan look like. We know the satan only by his misdeeds. Satan in appearance will not be diffirent from that of rushdi, or vice versa.
ET Please stop giving this Rushdie guy the publicity!
@IndianKid: Look there is nothing divine about freedom of speech "thingy" i have no right to be provocative about your belief and opinions in the name of freedom of speech.Not everything said with a funny face and smile happens to be funny one should be able to draw line between humour and bullying.
Writers like Rushdie , Ayaan Hirsi and Douglas Murray thrives on provocation in the name of freedom of speech one shouldn't be surprised by Rushdi's aloof and snooty comments.
Well sais Rushdi, u r the real hero of freedom of expression.
@murttd - It is obvious India is the liberal land to hate Christians and Muslims by burning Churches and Mosques.
Rushdie was implying that imran khan has dictatorial tendencies like gaddafi. He was using the similarity in looks as a metaphor. The "Im the Dim" thing took the cake. :-). Classic acerbic Rushdie.
Falcon,
Satirizing a religion may makes you disrespectful, but it doesn't make you unintelligent.
His literary contributions speak for themselves, but due to the 'blasphemous' nature of one of his books, you're unable to judge the overall quality of his ideas and writings in an unbiased manner...refusing to admit that disrespectful or not, he is kind of a genius.
I hope Imran you´ll just ignore him ..Silence is the best answer sometimes!
Why do people hate Salman Rushdie?? Has anybody read his book? If so can you post the para from his book that is offending..I've not read it!! I can then decide if i had his opinion, his book or him!
India is a liberal and land of free speech. Be it ex-muslim, ex-hindus, ex-chrisitians, ex-religious everybody has the right to comment. Salman Rushdie keep it up !
Well, come to think of it, IK, as he grows older, does resemble Qaddafi.
@Loneliberal PK: My friend. If it all it takes to be an intellectual heavyweight is to bash other religions, world is full of those. But honestly it is more of a shallow publicity stunt. Truly, it is otherwise; wisdom is a name of understanding and loving everything in existence rather than hurting others, which unfortunately Mr. Rushdie has done.
@faraz mehmood:
Political compulsions(alliance with religious parties in Pakistan) AND also probably he has no answer to the questions of Rushdie.
Well wisher,
It wasn't political wisdom, it was a publicity stunt to show off his 'Muslimness'. And at the same time, to avoid the a verbal joust with intellectual heavyweights (not just Rushdie) that would've easily dwarfed him at the conclave.
I agree. I agree. I agree.
Comparing Imran to Qaddafi seems to be a cheap shot. It does not make sense. Looks like someone is angry.
Who cares if Rushdie said this, He isn't sane anymore.
i didn't voted in favoure of the Khan decisions nor against because i don't have read the book'
but as intellectual has said " it is the mark of an educated person to entertain the thoughts of other without accepting it" i think there is nothing wrong in attending the conference instead it was a golden opportunity for Khan to debate with Rushie on the issue if Khan would have read the book which i couldn't aspect. i am the staunch supporter of Khan's despite that i am disagree with his this decision. i can simply say this decision of Khan as a "decision of Mulla's"
Seriously, Imran does look like Qaddafi:))
im pakistani and i love salman rushdie. he's one of the greatest living writers of the english language that we have. His prose is unequaled by any other in my vastly read opinion and im also sure like him, that imran khan hasnt even read satanic verses. i was actually looking forward to voting for him until he revealed himself to be some one who instead of taking pakistan forwards, might actually take it backward.
It is interesting that he is criticizing IK only whereas other Indian politicians also have refused to share stage with him. This shows this guy's bias. Rushdie, you are pathetic just like Indian supporters of you especially on this forum.
What kind of an event would invite a looser like rushdie......let imran khan aside why do other people listen to him.....making rushdie popular for nothing....
IK's withdrawl really seems to have ruffled a few feathers and then Rushdie talks about 'freedom of expression'....IK withdrew from the event which was his right so what's the big deal? And for the Indians, Omar Abdullah and Akhilesh Yadav also did not participate but everyone is banging abt IK. Dimwits!
It is a brave decision of IK. So oh rushdi stop barking, i salute IK for this decision
lol @ 'Im the Dim Khan'... now that's just hilarious!
No harm in being compared to Qaddafi. Infact should be an honour. He is revered in Pakistan. We have the largest and most beautiful cricket stadium in the heart of Lahore named afer him!
India is great country who invites every person who is intellectual may b IK or Rushdie,we feel horrible when Muslims cant hear criticism of religion
Being compared to Qaddafi would be offensive anywhere outside of Pakistan.
Salman Rushdie is a downgraded person in muslim world. Its 100% Imran Khan's write either to attend or not. Comparing Imran with Qaddafi is just nonsense. Imran Khan is our national hero.
Imran Khan is not a hero but a zero. He do not know crisis management. Opposition shouts at government to get votes and once they occupy the same position, they behave worse than others. A real statesman should advice the government to solve the problems, and not fooling the people promising removal of corruption in 19 days, making people rich in 20 days, bright future in 21 days and end of the road in 22 days.
Rushdie remarks about IK are in very poor taste which shows his petty thinking and warped mind-setup even though he is bracketed amongst the top writers. IK has shown political wisdom by pulling out of the conclave and why should he put at stake his ultimate goal ?
Congratulations to Imran Khan, and PTI too. After TALEBAN KHAN, you got a brand new title, QADDAFI KHAN. Sounds Good !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Ali Wazir, No one is worshipping Salman Rusdie in India. He is of Indian descent. He comes to India as often he wants and there has been no problem before even with our sizable muslim population. No one gives a damn in India. But this time it was hijacked by some right wing hoodlooms in Jaipur literary fest and since then it has carried on.
Like everything else in India he is much loved and also much hated.
Mr Akhilesh Yadav, Omar Abdullah and Imran Khan chose not to attend solely because of electoral reasons. These 'fine' politicians do not care if they can, or how they can, fix the basic problems of their voters. They only need to ensure they do not offend muslim voters(especially in Pakistan). Which is a bit sad.
I mean you just have to look at comments, people are happy about IK's decision of boycotting the event. So how does exactly is IK's decision of boycotting linked with solving Pakistan problems? And how is it brave? Its just all emotional brouhaha about a non issue really. There are muslims in England and Western world and in India, do you think they care!! Majority do not.
@Yousaf Khan: Imran Khan does not hate Rushdie, he is just exercising his right not to attend a function he feels is beneath him. Rushdie is not worth it.
Imran wasn't destined to attend and thats it,we all agree and believe that its our Creator who makes all the decisions for us,as for Mr Rushdie, he's mentally unwell( my personal view) and shouldn't be taken too seriously....ever.He's got some serious issues that need to be resolved so please do not pay the attention to him that he so much wants.I advise India's Government to take the responsibility of Mr Rushdie's treatment for mental instability what with the reverence they smother him with always.Well...who cares about what he blabbers... Pakistan Zindabad, Imran Khan Paindabad..!!
I have read all of his books and I must say they are mediocre. He was catapulted to fame due to anti prophet rhetoric in Satanic Verses, or else he would have been forgotten by the world long long back.
I bet most Pakistanis rambling about Salman Rushdie would not have read his book. This 'hurt mentality' needs to dealt with. If some one is hurt then stay hurt. You have a choice you can ignore the person disdainfully if you do not agree with something.
Coming to Imran, I am surprised how hypocritical that person can be. He has no qualms of having company with dimwits and grossly communal famous 'defense analyst' but would have a problem attending an event where Salman Rushdie was invited. Will Imran stop coming to TV channels who invite others who insult and denigrate minorities and their religious beliefs. After all the same logic can be used in this case as well.
Finally, freedom of speech cannot be qualified by rules. Voltaire said, “I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
Imran Khan's time is too precious to be wasted on mean spirited people like Rushdie. Pakistan backs IK for his decision!
Why is Imran so inclined to boycotts!!