How many years to fix...

“We need to create a tolerant ethos in this country,” Tewari added. On Saturday, Chidambaram, who was the minister of state for home in the Rajiv Gandhi government when the ban was slapped in 1988, had said “I have no hesitation in saying that the ban on Salman Rushdie’s book was wrong.”

Another Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit, however, took a contrary stand, saying Chidambaram could have made amends. “If Chidambaram ji had thought banning these books was not correct, he could have corrected it at that time,” said Dikshit.

The Modi government has come under fire from the Opposition, with the Congress leading the charge, and a section of intelligentsia over “growing intolerance” in the country and stifling of dissent.

The Lok Sabha is to debate the issue on Monday. And some fireworks can be expected.

“The question arises that after close to nearly three decades why was there a need to do so (call the ban wrong). If it is reflective of Congress’ thinking, then one needs to see it in a larger perspective and everyone, which includes Congress particularly, needs to be a little tolerant,” BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said.

He, however, also called for a cautious approach as the Constitution imposed “reasonable restrictions” on the freedom of expression.

Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen joined the debate, advising West Bengal