Rushdie backs NBA activists

new delhi: booker prize-winning author salman rushdie has voiced his support for another winner of this prestigious award, arundhati roy, over the sardar sarovar project controversy. he has also extended his support to narmada bachao andolan leader medha patkar and nba's lawyer, shanti bhushan. all three have been hauled up by the supreme court for committing contempt of court.in an article titled a foolish dam and a writer's freedom, that he penned recently for the new york times, rushdie says: ``what the supreme court of india should realise is that by pursuing arundhati roy, medha patkar and shanti bhushan in this fashion, it places itself before the court of world opinion." adds rushdie: ``can it be that the supreme court of the world's largest democracy will reveal itself to be biased against free speech and be prepared to act at the bidding of a powerful interest group ^ the coalition of political and financial interests behind the narmada dam? only by abandoning the pursuit of arundhati roy and the narmada valley campaigners can the supreme court escape such a judgment."