The Central government on Wednesday asserted that it will ascertain the facts about an advertisement on the sale of controversial author Salman Rushdie's books, including
Satanic Verses, posted on a website of India's Consul General in Saudi Arabia, Ausaf Sayeed.
'We will ascertain the facts,' External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told media persons after inaugurating the annual Haj conference in New Delhi.
As the minister concluded his speech at the Conference, a delegate rose on his feet, displaying a Hindi daily, which had carried out a story on Wednesday on the personal website of the Consul General -- www.ausafsayeed.com -- alleging that it was selling Rushdie's books online.
This led to