Imran Khan refuses to attend India conclave in Salman Rushdie's presence

[ehsan]

Re: imran khan refuses to attend india conclave in salman rusdie’s presence,

@babloos

**Salman Rushdie compares Imran Khan to Qaddafi

**

****NEW DELHI: British writer Salman Rushdie taunted Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf chief Imran Khan as unable to handle Rushdie’s ‘bouncers’, after the latter pulled out of the India Today Conclave, NDTVreported on Saturday.
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.”

Salman Rushdie compares Imran Khan to Qaddafi – The Express Tribune

Salamn Rushdie - Once an idiot always an idiot. Always talks through his knickers.