New Delhi:
The controversy over author Salman Rushdie skipping the Jaipur Literature Festival due to alleged security threats has turned into an ugly spat between the congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJP today said Rushdie's visit was a fixed match between intelligence agencies and the Centre and accused the congress of communalising the issue ahead of the Uttar Pradesh polls.
"It is self evident that in Rushdie s visit there has been match fixing between intelligence agencies, the Centre and the Rajasthan government," said BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad.
"The issue concerns the credibility of the intelligence agencies; no casual approach should be there," he added.
The BJP has demanded a complete investigation of the entire issue, saying the Congress has abused the entire issue on communal lines for the upcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.
Mr Rushdie on Sunday accused the Rajasthan Police of generating the plot to keep him out of the country. His claim was later rejected by the Rajasthan Police, saying inputs about the threats came from the Centre and the intelligence bureau.