After Salman Rushdie, Chinese writer Hao Qun, popularly known as Murong Xuecon [sic] — his pen name — was missed at the Kolkata literary meet. Murong was to address the media on Thursday, but failed to turn up as he was allegedly denied visa to India. However, like his writings that seeped through Chinese government censorship with the help of the Internet, Murong interacted with the audience through Skype.

Murong's translator and publisher Harvey Thomlison said, "He wasn't actually refused visa, but they delayed it till it never happened. I was told that the delay was caused from India's end, though most of his controversies are in China. I personally feel that the Indian government is afraid of offending China. It's a shame because he has been given visa across the world."

attached to: Murong Xuecun