Imran Khan opts out of conclave over Salman Rushdie's presence

Pakistan's cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan on Wednesday pulled out of the upcoming India Today Conclave in New Delhi, citing the presence of controversial author Salman Rushdie at the same event.

Reacting to Khan's decision, the India Today group deeply regretted that he will not address the Conclave because of Rushdie's participation.

In a statement issued by his Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf party, Khan said he "could not even think of participating in any programme that included Salman Rushdie, who has caused immeasurable hurt to Muslims across the globe."

Khan was scheduled to participate as a keynote speaker in the conclave being organised by India Today magazine on March 16-17. He expressed his regrets to the organisers.

The statement said Khan "only received and saw the full programme of the conclave last evening and took action early this morning to cancel his participation".

The organisers of the conclave announced on Tuesday that Rushdie would speak at the meet on the theme: The Liberty Verses ? I am What I Am and That's All That I Am.

"We deeply regret that Imran Khan will not address the India Today Conclave because of Salman Rushdie's participation," Aroon Purie, Editor-in-Chief, India Today Group said in a statement in New Delhi.

"The India Today Conclave is a platform for free and frank exchange of ideas. We do not endorse the views of any of our speakers but we do stand for the freedom of expression in all that we do; it's an essential principle of a free nation and free media," he said.

"We wish that Imran had used this opportunity to express his views at the Conclave with all the force and lucidity that he possesses. We can all agree to disagree but we must present our argument," Purie added.

Rushdie was forced to withdraw from the Jaipur Literature Festival in January following protests by Muslim groups.

His 1988 novel The Satanic Verses is still banned in India for alleged blasphemy against Islam.