New Delhi: First, Muslim hardliners turned the heat on controversial Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen. So much so that she had to run for her life from Kolkata.
And now, it is the turn of celebrated writer Salman Rushdie to face their wrath.
Rushdie is in Mumbai on the invitation of socialite and a member of the Godrej Industries family, Parmeshwar Godrej, to take part in a new AIDS campaign launched by the Godrej group.
A Muslim body in Mumbai, the All India Ulema Association, has taken serious offence to Rushdie's presence in the city and is now directing its anger towards the Godrej Group.
The association has appealed to the entire Muslim community to boycott all Godrej products. They say Parmeshwar Godrej is mocking their community by inviting Salman Rushdie to be a part of her AIDS initiative.
''It is a well known fact that Rushdie has always hurt religious sentiments of the Muslim community through his blasphemous writings. And Ms Godrej by playing host to him has, in a way, tried to make a mockery of the community. So we appeal to the Muslims to boycott Godrej products,'' President of the All India Ulema Association, Maulana Ali Athar Ali was quoted by news agency UNI as saying.
The Muslim outfit wants the Godrej group to apologise for the "insult" to their community.
