Govt tells Taslima to show restraint
Unwilling to upset its partner the Left parties and faced with increasing criticism from the Opposition, the government attempted a balancing act on the Taslima Nasrin issue.
By TNN |
NEW DELHI: Unwilling to upset its partner the Left parties and faced with increasing criticism from the Opposition, the government attempted a balancing act on the Taslima Nasrin issue. The government said the controversial author from Bangladesh could continue to live in India, however on her part, Ms Nasrin should “refrain from activities that may hurt sentiments of the people” in India.
Last week, Ms Nasrin was forced to leave Kolkata amidst widespread protests in the city over her continued stay in India, particularly West Bengal. Fundamentalists, who are said to have been involved in the violent upsurge in Kolkata last week, have been demanding Ms Nasrin’s exit from India.
This was amply evident in external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee’s statement to Parliament. Assuring that the controversial author can continue to stay in India, the external affairs minister said, “throughout history, India has never refused shelter to those who have come and sought our protection. The civilisational heritage, which is now government policy, will continue, and India will provide shelter to Ms Nasrin”.
But the assurance was not without riders. Mr Mukherjee said that those who have been given shelter in India have “always undertaken to eschew political activities in India or any action which may harm India’s relations with friendly countries.
It is also expected that the guests will refrain from activities and expressions that may hurt the sentiments of our people”. This is clearly an indication to Ms Nasrin to desist from writing or talking on subjects that would offend Bangladesh or Muslims at home.
The Left, which has been accused of kow-towing to fundamentalist Islamic groups, has sought to underplay its role in Ms Nasrin’s departure from Kolkata last week. Responding to questions on Ms Nasrin’s “eviction” CPM MPs Mohammad Salim and Basudeb Acharia said there was no eviction.
Nobody was evicted by the Left Front government. Instead they chose to present Ms Nasrin’s departure as a decision she had taken on her own will on the basis of her sense of the “threat perception” in the city.
In a bid to make this argument stick, the Left MPs said that Ms Nasrin was moved out of Andhra Pradesh in March 2007 by the Centre following rising threat perceptions and sent to Kolkata where she spent three years in a privately-owned flat peacefully. “No one can say how the threat perception can change and when” Mr Salim said.
In April 2002, Ms Nasrin sought asylum in India, she was granted leave to stay on in the country. Ms Nasrin’s move to India, after periods of stay in Sweden, France came in the wake of threats issued by fundamentalists in Bangladesh for her books and articles which were described as blasphemous and offensive to Islam and Muslims.
Last week, Ms Nasrin was forced to leave Kolkata amidst widespread protests in the city over her continued stay in India, particularly West Bengal. Fundamentalists, who are said to have been involved in the violent upsurge in Kolkata last week, have been demanding Ms Nasrin’s exit from India.
This was amply evident in external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee’s statement to Parliament. Assuring that the controversial author can continue to stay in India, the external affairs minister said, “throughout history, India has never refused shelter to those who have come and sought our protection. The civilisational heritage, which is now government policy, will continue, and India will provide shelter to Ms Nasrin”.
But the assurance was not without riders. Mr Mukherjee said that those who have been given shelter in India have “always undertaken to eschew political activities in India or any action which may harm India’s relations with friendly countries.
It is also expected that the guests will refrain from activities and expressions that may hurt the sentiments of our people”. This is clearly an indication to Ms Nasrin to desist from writing or talking on subjects that would offend Bangladesh or Muslims at home.
The Left, which has been accused of kow-towing to fundamentalist Islamic groups, has sought to underplay its role in Ms Nasrin’s departure from Kolkata last week. Responding to questions on Ms Nasrin’s “eviction” CPM MPs Mohammad Salim and Basudeb Acharia said there was no eviction.
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Nobody was evicted by the Left Front government. Instead they chose to present Ms Nasrin’s departure as a decision she had taken on her own will on the basis of her sense of the “threat perception” in the city.
In a bid to make this argument stick, the Left MPs said that Ms Nasrin was moved out of Andhra Pradesh in March 2007 by the Centre following rising threat perceptions and sent to Kolkata where she spent three years in a privately-owned flat peacefully. “No one can say how the threat perception can change and when” Mr Salim said.
In April 2002, Ms Nasrin sought asylum in India, she was granted leave to stay on in the country. Ms Nasrin’s move to India, after periods of stay in Sweden, France came in the wake of threats issued by fundamentalists in Bangladesh for her books and articles which were described as blasphemous and offensive to Islam and Muslims.
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