Congress distances itself from Chidambaram’s Rushdie book remark

The Congress on Monday distanced itself from former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram’s statement that the banning of Salman Rushdie’s controversial novel The Satanic Verses by the Rajiv Gandhi government was wrong.

Describing his remark as his personal view, senior Congress leader Kamal Nath said, “No question of a single person puncturing party’s stand. Congress’ stand is clear. Today what the country is confronted with is an assault on harmony,” he said.

“That is Chidambaram’s own view,” the former Parliamentary Affairs Minister said while replying to a query.

Chidambaram had on Saturday said the decision to ban

The Satanic Verses was wrong.

“I have no hesitation in saying that the ban on Salman Rushdie’s book was wrong,” Mr. Chidambaram had said.