Bhardwaj not in tune with Chidambaram, lauds Nehru’s ‘true image’ Rajiv Gandhi

New Delhi, Nov 29 (ANI): Former law minister Hansraj Bhardwaj on Sunday rubbished former union minister P. Chidambaram’s assertion that it was wrong on part of Rajiv Gandhi-led government in 1989 to ban Salman Rushdie`s book ‘ The Satanic Verses’, saying he is proud of the former prime minister who was true image of Jawaharlal Nehru. Bhardwaj highlighted that the nation could progress only if it took everybody together devoid of their caste or religion. Lauding Rajiv Gandhi, he said there is no one till date who is as forward looking as the former prime minister. Speaking at Times Lit Fest here yesterday, Chidambaram had said, “I have no hesitation in saying that the ban on Salman Rushdie’s book was wrong…Even 20 years back, I would have said the same thing.” The author later asked how many more years it would take to correct the ‘mistake’. A major controversy had erupted in 1989 after the release of the book ‘satanic verses’ when several Muslims accused it of blasphemy and mocking their faith. In 1989, the then Congress government had banned the book for its purported attacks on Islam.

Watch the Video below

Ventuno