Musharraf's book flies off shelves in India

New Delhi, Sep 27: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's autobiography may have ruffled a few feathers in the Indian political establishment, but it is turning out to be a huge draw among ordinary Indians.

'In the Line of Fire', which hit bookstores in the country today, is flying off the shelves in the national capital despite being priced a high Rs 950.

According to booksellers, most of the shops in upmarket Connaught Place and South Extension have sold nearly a third of their copies of the 362 page book within hours of delivery on the first day.

''We have sold 15 of the 30 copies that we received from the distributor,'' said Shalini Rose of The Bookworm in Connaught Place.

The shop, however, had placed an order for 100 copies following earlier orders from its customers.

'The New Book Depot', also in Connaught Place, sold 10 of the 30 copies it was given, said shop proprietor Rakesh Chandra.

Asad Khan of Midland Books in South Extension said he sold 20 of the 25 copies he received from the distributor. ''We had a demand of 100 copies from our customers,'' said Mr Khan.

Some shops are, however, rueing the distributors' decision not to give them any copies. ''We didn't get even a single copy though we had placed an order for 50,'' said R K Galgotia of E.D. Galgotia&Sons in Connaught Place.

'In the Line of Fire', which was launched in New York on Monday during Gen Musharraf's stay there for the United Nations General Assembly, was criticised by Indian political leaders like former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and former External Affairs minister Jaswant Singh for remarks on the failed Agra Summit and the Kargil incursion by Pakistani troops.

UNI

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