New Delhi, March 21
The UPA government has taken strong exception to the controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen’s recent outburst against the ruling coalition and attributed it to her high “emotional quotient.”
Taslima, who left the country for Europe earlier this week after a period of forced confinement, had criticised the Indian government for causing “harm that no fundamentalist could do” and placing her “in a lock up”. She had charged India for trampling on her democratic rights and keeping her away from mainstream society. Describing her diatribe as “unfortunate”, UPA sources clarified that she was not kept under house arrest but kept in a safe house in the Capital, as there was a genuine threat to her life after the violent protests in Kolkata against her writings criticising Islam. It was explained that she was brought to Delhi because the Centre was not in a position to guarantee her safety in any other state.
On the contrary, it was pointed out, the government had gone out of its way to accommodate her and provide her the necessary comforts. The Bangladeshi writer, on the other hand, never tired of making impossible demands. She had wanted her pet cat to be brought cross from Kolkata and on another occasion she had insisted that a visiting Swedish friend be accommodated in the safe house where she was staying. The government had declined her request.
The government said it was also incorrect to say that she was kept locked up. The writer had received several visitors from Kolkata and had even had lunch with the Swedish ambassador at a city hotel.
