LJP member demands discussion on Salman Rushdie, removed from house

LJP member Shoaib Iqbal was today removed from the Delhi assembly after he insisted that the house discuss the issue of author Salman Rushdie visiting India.

Iqbal said 'The Satanic Verses' author should not be allowed to visit India and showed newspaper clippings in this regard and said Speaker Yoganand Shastri should allow a discussion on the issue.

"It is an issue which concerns the central government. We cannot discuss it here," the speaker said.

However, Iqbal got support from opposition Leader VK Malhotra who said, "Let him raise an issue if he wants to."

Despite the speaker refusing to give permission, Iqbal rose from his seat and started speaking about the issue prompting him to give the MLA warning.

Later, Shastri asked the marshals to remove him from the house.