MEA has a Rushdie problem in Saudi Arabia

This time round, it cropped up at the annual Haj Conference on Wednesday. Delegates from Bihar alleged that an advertisement of “controversial” author Salman Rushdie’s books, including Satanic Verses, was posted on the personal website of India’s Consul General in Saudi Arabia, Ausaf Sayeed.

Noisy scenes followed when the issue was raised in the presence of Minister of External Affairs, Pranab Mukherjee, and MoS E Ahmed. One of the delegates even displayed a Hindi daily which had carried a story on the website—www.ausufsayeed.com—alleging that it was selling Rushdie’s books online.

Other delegates joined in demanding the resignation of the Consul General and some even started shouting slogans against him. It required a lot of mediation from Ahmed to pacify the protesters and they agreed on the condition that an explanation would be sought from the Consul General.

When contacted, MEA sources said that the ministers were convinced by his explanation. “We have ascertained the facts and he said the website was on a free server and that he had no control over it. It seems to be a politically motivated allegation,” an official told The Indian Express.

The alleged advertisement is no longer seen on his website. Sources say the origin of the controversy could be traced to the issue of not letting the Haj pilgrims carry water from the holy well of Zamzam on their flight back. Sources say that a section in the Haj committee feel that Sayeed did not do enough to help the pilgrims. But those who support Sayeed argue that it was his intervention that convinced the Saudi Government to give an exception last time to carry Zamzam water.