Muslim bodies to stage 'dharna' at Godrej headquarters on Feb 1

Mumbai, Jan 24 (UNI) Intensifying the agitation against controversial author Salman Rushdie, representatives of various Muslim organisations today decided to stage a 'dharna' at Godrej industries headquarters on February 1.

The Muslim bodies have also decided to send one lakh postcards from the community to the group's chairman Adi Godrej demanding an apology for hosting Mr Rushdie here recently.

The purported postcards state that, ''We have great respect for you and your family, your esteemed organisation should not have hosted a controversial individual like Salmam Rushdie in India.'' ''We expect that you shall regret and apologise for your patronage of Salman Rushdie as this act of yours has hurt millions of Muslims across the world.'' In another way of protest, the members of the community have been asked to dump the Godrej products. The Muslim bodies have also demanded prosecution of the controversial writer under the Indian Penal Code for indulging in blasphemy.

UNI IAS-LS SR SB BD1816