4 authors who read from Rushdie sent packing

NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES

Salman Rushdie's cancelled visit to the Jaipur Literature Festival is covered by most papers of the day. The Times of India's headline reads, '4 authors who read from Rushdie sent packing'. The paper elaborates that author who had read out excerpts from Rushdie's banned novel the Satanic Verses, were being advised by the organizers to leave the Festival and the city. On a different note, the Asian Age on its front page carries a photograph of US talk show host Oprah Winfrey, in a vibrant Salwar Kameez, greeting enthusiastic fans at the Lit Fest.

The Indian Express leads with the story about a high-level Committee on rail modernization recommending a hike in passenger fares. The story's headline reads, 'Railway panel for linking fares to inflation, a one time hike of 25 percent'.

The Statesman and the Asian Age highlight BJP President Nitin Gadkari favouring Narendra Modi as Prime Ministerial candidate. The Asian Age headline says,'Gadkari for Modi as BJP President and PM nominee'.

The Indian Express says that yesterday's Maoists attack in Jharkhand is a part of an elaborate plan in which "Maoists instigated villagers, drew cops in, then killed 13" jawans.

On a more positive note, the Asian Age reports that "I-T exemption ceiling may go up to Rs. 2 lakhs". The paper writes that the Finance Ministry is considering increasing the tax exemption level for personal income tax for both men and women to two lakh rupees in the forthcoming Union Budget.

And finally, the Times of India on its front page, highlights the popularity of Hindi films across the border, saying "Bollywood s huge success in Pak". The paper adds that within just four years of the Pakistan market for Indian films opening up in 2007, the entertainment industry in that country has grown by 300 percent at the box office.