KOLKATA, 23 December 2007 — Controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen, in hiding in India since protests against her by a hard-line group last month, seems to be heading for fresh troubles.
Indian authorities annoyed at her leaking details of “secret” talks with the government to media are having second thoughts on extending her visa which expires on Feb. 16. Holding a Swedish passport, Taslima is here on a residence visa, which needs to be renewed every six months.
“While we can agree to let her stay, she must also refrain from doing anything which leads to tensions in the country,” a senior official said.
Meanwhile, Sibani Mukherjee, owner of the People’s Book Society, publisher of Taslima’s books in India, told AFP yesterday, “Taslima is not being allowed to move out of her new residence. It’s a very, very lonely existence.
“She is struggling to concentrate on her new book. She told us she may not meet the deadline. We have decided not to press her.” The writer was in a very “troubled” situation, Mukherjee added.
Taslima was forced to leave the eastern Indian city of Kolkata last month following violent protests that led to the army’s deployment.
India pledged to protect Taslima and moved her to a safe house in New Delhi last month after the protests against “anti-Islamic” passages in one of her earlier books “Dikhandito” (“Split Into Two”).
The Indian press has clamored to know Taslima’s whereabouts, implying that restrictions on her movements and interactions with the press amounted to a de facto house arrest.
Taslima told India’s domestic news agency by telephone on Thursday that she would “not be allowed to return to Kolkata for now.” “I told the officials that I be allowed to lead a normal life at least in New Delhi,” PTI quoted Nasreen as saying.
Rights groups and film stars held a rally on her behalf in Kolkata yesterday, calling for the writer to be allowed to return to the city she has treated as her adopted home for the past three years.
India’s Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee yesterday denied that Taslima was being held against her will.
“Taslima Nasreen is not under house arrest,” Mukherjee said in Kolkata. “She is our guest. The government has made necessary arrangements to secure her safe stay in India.” Mukherjee said Taslima “can stay in India as long as she likes.” “But she has to abide by certain laws,” he said. “She should not do anything that can hurt the sentiment of any community.” Taslima fled her homeland after being accused of blasphemy for her 1994 novel “Lajja,” or “Shame”, which depicts violence against minority Hindus in Muslim-majority Bangladesh. She eventually settled in India.
