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Operation Sindoor: When Indian missiles rained on Pak terror parade

<div class='ite_mg_banner ads__container'><div class='it_mg_bnrBox'><div class='ite_bnr_cont'><div class='ite_cont_dtl'> <h4>Subscribe to India Today Print + Digital. Your First Month Is On Us. <span class='bold_text'> ₹299/month</span> thereafter. Cancel anytime.</h4><a href='https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.dev?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsubscriptions.intoday.in%2Findiatoday%3Futm_source%3Dtop-web-banner ' class='ite_subscribe_btn origin_conscent_url' target='_blank'>SUBSCRIBE</a></div></div></div></div>

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<div class="itg-mosimage"><amp-img src="https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.dev?url=https%3A%2F%2Fakm-img-a-in.tosshub.com%2Fsites%2Fmedia2%2Findiatoday%2Fimages%2Fstories%2F1998October%2Ffreedom1_082112040958.gif" alt="" height="425" width="650" class="" layout="responsive"></amp-img>Salman Rushdie<p>Now that the Iranian Government has pledged not to despatch a death squad to implement the fatwa against Salman Rushdie, things are apparently looking up for the 51-year-old author of<i>Satanic Verses</i>.</p><p>But he is bitter about India, from which he remains, in effect, banned. "The response of the Indian government through the past 10 years has been very distressing," rages Rushdie, "It was the first country to ban the book and that was done before it was even published there." </p><p>For the Mumbai-born writer, it is this enforced exile that has been the greatest loss. India has provided the inspiration for much of his work, including <i>Midnight's Children</i>, his biggest book.</p><p>For some three years, Iran had been indicating Rushdie was safe and there was no question of offering a reward for his murder. However, no written guarantee was forthcoming. To issue one would be to overturn the late Ayatollah Khomeini's edict. </p><p>As a senior Iranian diplomat in London put it, "Nobody can touch the theoretical aspect of the fatwa unless he wants to commit suicide." In effect, nobody can overrule Khomeini except Khomeini himself - and he's dead.</p><div class="itemcenter"><amp-iframe height="62" title="" width="320" sandbox="allow-forms allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-top-navigation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation" allowfullscreen src="https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.dev?url=https%3A%2F%2Fakm-img-a-in.tosshub.com%2Fsites%2Findiatoday%2Fbanner%2Fpreferred-source-new.html%3Fv%3D1.014%5Cu0026native%3D1" class="mrBt15 preferred-source-banner"> </amp-iframe></div></p><p>The new situation has arisen because the Iranian Government has said, somewhat contradictorily, that while the fatwa will always retain its religious validity, it will not be carried out - at least not by Iran. Driven by economic compulsions, London immediately restored full diplomatic relations with Tehran.</p><p>The <i>Satanic Verses</i> saga began in India. Penguin India was going to publish it ahead of Viking in London but pulled out when the manuscript arrived. When London went ahead with publication on September 26, 1988, Rajiv Gandhi, then prime minister, banned any import. </p><p>A copy was ceremonially burnt in Bradford on January 16, 1989. Photocopies of the offending pages were circulated among British Muslim leaders, one of whom, the late Kalim Siddiqui, had close links with Iran.</p><p>Siddiqui was in Tehran when Khomeini, having seen TV footage of anti-<i>Satanic Verses</i> riots in Pakistan, demanded information about the author. "Oh Rushdie? Very bad man," was what the Indian-born Siddiqui told a Khomeini aide. The ayatollah's response was the death sentence of February 14, 1989.</p><p>With the fatwa that had "deformed" his life seemingly defanged, Rushdie exuded relief: "It's a great day and we should recognise it as such." He flared up when asked if he would apologise for the offence caused by Satanic Verses. "There is not a chance in hell that the book will be withdrawn," he thundered. </p><p>Stung by his words, clerics and the foreign ministry spokesman in Iran reaffirmed the validity of the fatwa. This confusion ensures that while Rushdie's security - estimated budget: a million pounds a year - may be scaled down, it will not be disbanded.</p><p>In fact, there is reason to believe that Rushdie's threat perception remains unchanged. While the Iranian Government may have wriggled out of a tight spot, it has no control over private groups. One such Islamic fundamentalist body, the Khordad Foundation, has offered a $2.5 million (Rs 10.5 crore) bounty to anyone who kills Rushdie. The offer stands unrevoked.</p><p>So what has been achieved? Nothing more than the exchange of full-fledged embassies between London and Tehran. For Rushdie, there is the anomalous situation of Robin Cook - the British foreign secretary who was seen as rushing into a detente with Iran - claiming that the threat had been "very substantially diminshed" and yet affirming that security arrangements would continue.</p><p>In sum, while Rushdie's prime foe, the Government of Iran, may have backtracked, he is not quite a free man. The threat of a crazed assassin's bullet remains. The word magician will have to keep looking over his shoulder.<br></p><div id="tab-link-wrapper-plugin"><div class="authors__container"><div class="authors__by"><div class="authlable">Published By: </div><div class="authdetaisl">AtMigration </div></div><div class="published__on"><div class="authlable">Published On: </div><div class="authdetaisl">Oct 12, 1998</div></div></div><div class="sendros">--- ENDS ---</div></div></div>

society-and-the-arts

Society & The Arts

<div class="itg-mosimage"><div class="itgimage"><img  title=""  class="" alt="" src="https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.dev?url=https%3A%2F%2Fakm-img-a-in.tosshub.com%2Fsites%2Fmedia2%2Findiatoday%2Fimages%2Fstories%2F1998October%2Ffreedom1_082112040958.gif" loading="lazy" /></div>Salman Rushdie<p>Now that the Iranian Government has pledged not to despatch a death squad to implement the fatwa against Salman Rushdie, things are apparently looking up for the 51-year-old author of<i>Satanic Verses</i>.</p><p>But he is bitter about India, from which he remains, in effect, banned. "The response of the Indian government through the past 10 years has been very distressing," rages Rushdie, "It was the first country to ban the book and that was done before it was even published there." </p><p>For the Mumbai-born writer, it is this enforced exile that has been the greatest loss. India has provided the inspiration for much of his work, including <i>Midnight's Children</i>, his biggest book.</p><p>For some three years, Iran had been indicating Rushdie was safe and there was no question of offering a reward for his murder. However, no written guarantee was forthcoming. To issue one would be to overturn the late Ayatollah Khomeini's edict. </p><p>As a senior Iranian diplomat in London put it, "Nobody can touch the theoretical aspect of the fatwa unless he wants to commit suicide." In effect, nobody can overrule Khomeini except Khomeini himself - and he's dead.</p><div class="itemcenter"><iframe scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="62" awidth="320" aheight="62" amplayout="fixed" src="https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.dev?url=https%3A%2F%2Fakm-img-a-in.tosshub.com%2Fsites%2Findiatoday%2Fbanner%2Fpreferred-source-new.html%3Fv%3D1.014" class="preferred-source-banner" loading="lazy"></iframe></div><style>.preferred-source-banner{  margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom:10px;}</style></p><p>The new situation has arisen because the Iranian Government has said, somewhat contradictorily, that while the fatwa will always retain its religious validity, it will not be carried out - at least not by Iran. Driven by economic compulsions, London immediately restored full diplomatic relations with Tehran.</p><p>The <i>Satanic Verses</i> saga began in India. Penguin India was going to publish it ahead of Viking in London but pulled out when the manuscript arrived. When London went ahead with publication on September 26, 1988, Rajiv Gandhi, then prime minister, banned any import. </p><p>A copy was ceremonially burnt in Bradford on January 16, 1989. Photocopies of the offending pages were circulated among British Muslim leaders, one of whom, the late Kalim Siddiqui, had close links with Iran.</p><p>Siddiqui was in Tehran when Khomeini, having seen TV footage of anti-<i>Satanic Verses</i> riots in Pakistan, demanded information about the author. "Oh Rushdie? Very bad man," was what the Indian-born Siddiqui told a Khomeini aide. The ayatollah's response was the death sentence of February 14, 1989.</p><p>With the fatwa that had "deformed" his life seemingly defanged, Rushdie exuded relief: "It's a great day and we should recognise it as such." He flared up when asked if he would apologise for the offence caused by Satanic Verses. "There is not a chance in hell that the book will be withdrawn," he thundered. </p><p>Stung by his words, clerics and the foreign ministry spokesman in Iran reaffirmed the validity of the fatwa. This confusion ensures that while Rushdie's security - estimated budget: a million pounds a year - may be scaled down, it will not be disbanded.</p><p>In fact, there is reason to believe that Rushdie's threat perception remains unchanged. While the Iranian Government may have wriggled out of a tight spot, it has no control over private groups. One such Islamic fundamentalist body, the Khordad Foundation, has offered a $2.5 million (Rs 10.5 crore) bounty to anyone who kills Rushdie. The offer stands unrevoked.</p><p>So what has been achieved? Nothing more than the exchange of full-fledged embassies between London and Tehran. For Rushdie, there is the anomalous situation of Robin Cook - the British foreign secretary who was seen as rushing into a detente with Iran - claiming that the threat had been "very substantially diminshed" and yet affirming that security arrangements would continue.</p><p>In sum, while Rushdie's prime foe, the Government of Iran, may have backtracked, he is not quite a free man. The threat of a crazed assassin's bullet remains. The word magician will have to keep looking over his shoulder.<br></p><div id="tab-link-wrapper-plugin"><div class="authors__container"><div class="authors__by"><div class="authlable">Published By: </div><div class="authdetaisl">AtMigration </div></div><div class="published__on"><div class="authlable">Published On: </div><div class="authdetaisl">Oct 12, 1998</div></div></div><div class="sendros">--- ENDS ---</div></div></div>

Officially Iran seems to retreat on the fatwa. But maverick Islamic groups may still target Rushdie.<br />

India Today

Officially Iran seems to retreat on the fatwa. But maverick Islamic groups may still target Rushdie.

Freedom's just another word - India Today

Iranian Govt seems to retreat on fatwa, maverick Islamic groups may target Salman Rushdie

Freedom's just another word

Anti-India and anti-Hindu remarks by a self-described MAGA supporter drew backlash after a Texas journalist’s H-1B visa video went viral, fuelling online outrage and debate over immigration enforcement.

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Anti-India rhetoric flares after Texas journalist’s H-1B video goes viral

Ishan Kishan continues to stun people, and he showed that he is currently Indian cricket's Cindrella Man with his match-winning knock against New Zealand in Raipur. After a hard grind back in the domestic circuit, Jharkhand seems to have matured as a player and a leader. 

Ishan Kishan

Ishan Kishan’s Cinderella Man comeback: An overlooked talent to India's wildcard

Clergy members were arrested at Minneapolis-St. Paul airport and mass protests spread across Minnesota as demonstrators condemned stepped-up immigration enforcement and recent ICE detentions, including cases involving young children.

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US Southern Command said it conducted a lethal strike on a narco-trafficking vessel in the eastern Pacific, killing two people, leaving one survivor, and alerting the Coast Guard for rescue.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a cabinet meeting with Donald Trump. (Photo: Reuters)

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Meloni highlighted Europe’s hope for a negotiated Ukraine peace, addressed Trump’s peace initiatives, and flagged constitutional hurdles for Italy joining his proposed Board of Peace.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni with US President Donald Trump. (Photo: Reuters)

Hope one day: Meloni hints at Nobel Peace Prize nomination for Trump over Ukraine

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s election rally in poll-bound Kerala on Thursday saw a warm and light-hearted moment when he paused his speech to acknowledge a young child in the crowd holding up his picture, drawing loud applause. Modi asked the boy to hand over the photograph, write his home address on the back, and promised to write to him personally, directing SPG personnel to handle the picture carefully as a token of the child’s affection. 

PM Modi's Kerala  rally.

You’ll get tired beta: PM’s warm moment with child holding his pic at Kerala rally

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Iranian Govt seems to retreat on fatwa, maverick Islamic groups may target Salman Rushdie

Officially Iran seems to retreat on the fatwa. But maverick Islamic groups may still target Rushdie.

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