NEW DELHI/LUCKNOW: The "secular parties" on Tuesday were falling over each other to coddle the fatwa-issuing clerics and support their latest directive not to allow Salman Rushdie to attend the literary festival at Jaipur later this month.The state unit leaders of the Congress Samajwadi Party and RLD welcomed Deoband's demand and agreed with the Islamic seminary's stand that his presence would offend the sensibilities of the Muslim community.Rushdie, who has been periodically targeted by the Muslim street for his 1998 novel The Satanic Versus, is scheduled to participate in a discussion on 'Inglish, Amlish, Hinglish: The chutnification of English' at Jaipur.Deoband rector Maulana Mufti Abul Qasim Nomani had on Monday said that the seminary was demanding a ban on his visit as his "blasphemous writings have hurt the sentiments of Muslims across the world".The timing of the fatwa is significant as it is seen as part of the efforts of community leaders to flex their muscles on election eve. Rushide had visited India several times in the past.The newly-elected Congress Working Committee member and prominent leader from Saharanpur belt, where the Islamic seminary is situated, Rasheed Masood, went to the extent of demanding the cancellation of the literary festival."It could create a controversy on the election eve," said Masood.Samajwadi Party leader Ahmad Hassan also supported the demand for a ban on Rushdie's entry. He said the Centre has been "appeasing anti-Muslim forces" and should not allow Rushdie to set foot in India.However, Rushdie brushed aside opposition to his India trip by the Islamic seminary saying he does not need a visa to visit the country. "Regarding my Indian visit, for the record, I don't need a visa," posted Rushdie on microblogging site Twitter in the wake of the Deoband's demand.The Satanic Verses, which was banned by India, had sparked outrage in the Muslim world, including a fatwa against him by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the Supreme Leader of Iran, on February 14, 1989.A few months ago, al-Qaida had issued an audiotape threatening to retaliate against Britain for having honoured Salman Rushdie. Ayman al-Zawahri's 20-minute speech was entitled Malicious Britain And Its Indian Slaves.In the tape, the Qaida leader had lashed out at Britain for having awarded a knighthood to Rushdie, saying it was defying the Islamic world by granting the honour to the author of The Satanic Verses, deemed to insult Islam.