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Those who champion free speech bear a duty to protect it. If you believe that words have power, then you must be prepared to exert power to safeguard people's right to speak freely in the face of critics who seek to intimidate them into silence. The organisers of literary festival and the state government of Rajsthan have, between them, disappointingly failed this test.

What Muslim activists were hailing last night as a triumph stands as a stain against the festival's organisers and state authorities, who proved themselves to be not up to the task of allowing Rushdie'svoice to be heard. The fiasco heaps shame, too, on political parties who worried that openly supporting Rushdie might offend Muslim voters before a key state election in Uttar Pradesh next month.

With life in India already pinhed by corruption, the authorities' failure to guarantee free speech raises new concerns about the vigour of its democracy. India has poor record of freedomm of expression. That record just got worse. William dalrymple, the organiser said he personally felt disgraced. We Indians feel the same.

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Permalink Reply by Gaurav Gupta on January 26, 2012 at 2:02am

Doctor sahab
India is known as a land of philosophy Ideology and sprituality so keeping these all in our view Indians must have correct sense of thinking but despite all qualities which are considered with us our thinking pattern works in the wrong side mostly indian are busy in spreading corruption , bullshits , fighting for the caste religion and ethnics.It always shows the double standardness of the people and hypocrasy too means if head comes i win and tail comes you lose.Nobody has different thinking perspective for the society and all are busy to earn their own benefits of traditionalism.Although where society is going and our so called politician where they want to drive away the nation is still uncertain.In my point of view giving freedom to the extremist would always be harmful and you know already when you debar expression you loose the clue and sense.so we have very very doldrum situation.

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Permalink Reply by Munna Lal on January 26, 2012 at 8:37am

Dakter Saheb, let me first admire your English writing skill and congratulate you on your literary accomplishments. Allow me to declare you a role model for we Biharis. Let us all Biharis work hard and improve our written English skill. If Dakter Saheb can do it, why not we ?

Now coming to actual topic. I have been visting varous countries for last few years on business. I find a distinct change in their attitude to us Indians. Years ago, they respected us, Now it is not so. Then, they thought we are a superpower in making together with China. Now they think we are corrupt, hypocrite. Our falling growth rate reinforce their thinking. It is now Brazil, not India which they admire.

Yes, we are an intolerent people, emotional to the point of self destruction. We are devoid of moral and scruple. Only God can help us. As for freedom of expression ? Nothing said the better.

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Permalink Reply by Ragini Bhatiya on January 26, 2012 at 2:41pm

We hear so much about vote bank politics. If so, Hindus are in vast majority and every political party and politicians should be placketing Hindus for votes rather than Muslims. So why they don't? Answer is simple. Hindus are divided, gullible and clueless. They have no political agenda and they do not get behind their own candidate as Muslims do. For thousands of years Hindus have been manuplated, beginning with Alexander The Great, to Moghuls, British and now by our own Hindu politicians. So we can not blame any one but ourselves. We still have slave mentality, white skin still rules our hearts and foreign made consumer items we prefer over our own.

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Permalink Reply by Rajesh K.Pathak on January 26, 2012 at 2:59pm

It is always better to create, recreate own thoughts that will certainly develop intellectuality but if we say same thing as others have penned it then it shows bankrupcy of mind! Quality is more important than quantity at least for people like us!

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Permalink Reply by R Singh on January 26, 2012 at 4:44pm

Salman Rushdie is living in the west unhindered, all because the rule of law is equally applied, his right to free speech and expressions are guaranteed, the local police and their international counterparts are actively supporting the cause for free speech, they do not take orders from local thugs and militia, whenever they catch them they adequately circumcise their aggression with long prison terms. I hope the Congress never wins in any place, they have been the worst type of government for India.

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Permalink Reply by R Singh on January 26, 2012 at 6:19pm

None else but only the Muslim intelligentsia can get this community out of the shackles of regressive leadership that has a vested interest in keeping Muslims off and separated from progressive Indian mainstream.

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Permalink Reply by Ram Prakash on January 26, 2012 at 6:24pm

Wow to our Democracy or shall I say Mullahcracy.

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Permalink Reply by Ram Prakash on January 26, 2012 at 8:14pm

Sardar Patel should have been our Father of Nation because he is the real guy who created India.

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Permalink Reply by Shalu Sharma on January 27, 2012 at 7:47pm

The Satanic Verses is nothing more than a work of fiction penned by Salman Rushdie certainly that cannot a shake a faith. Interestingly, the book has derogatory remarks against Hanuman as well.

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Permalink Reply by R Singh on January 28, 2012 at 2:08am

India is a weak society and nation. It has no stomach for ground reality.They cave in easily and then look for excuses and then give twist to their cowardice and wrap themselves in meaningless talk and bravado. It fools no one, the society has slowly been wounded drip by drip. When 26/11 happened, we patted ourself how mature we are for not retaliating. Really, what could we have done other bogus talk? It is same with Taslima, Satanic verses and now his visit to Jaipur. How much harm is done to India, its international standing but who cares? We then go back to business as usual and then wait for next disaster.

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Permalink Reply by Atik Warsi on January 28, 2012 at 12:05pm

Some time i really feel feel sorry for you guys. You all are a educated fool, who doesn't have any other issue in these world. Muslims, Muslims & Muslims your main subject of discussion. First you all change your mentality. People who seating in Parliament of India they are not from Pakistan or Afghanistan. 95% They are pure Hindu, The are ruling the country, they are creating a law and breaking the law, Y bloody Muslims always blamed for any thing. All are one, congress, BJP, or communist..non of single party are doing any thing good for Muslims. Congress will announce, we will give 5% reservations to Muslims and from back door they will instruct some of party member to file the case in court against reservations. Muslims are already in busy in their own issues, they keep working to feed their family.

Stop your bullshit crap discussing only about Muslims. For all the reason you people blaming only Muslims. Every day killing many peoples by naxal, by police, by gov than you people are not discussing. Sick minded

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Permalink Reply by Aman on January 28, 2012 at 4:15pm

Atik Bahi, nothing wrong you have written. I have found a lot of people here whose heart and soul are full of hatered, castist crowning themselves the the best Bihari, NRI doctor or MA, LLB. I usually find them sitting on YB writing nonsense. Please forgive them as they have no other work to do.