Taslima returns to India
Controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasrin, who was dramatically bundled out from West Bengal in November last year, returned on Friday after spending more than four months in Sweden.
The 45-year-old Bangladeshi writer, who has been a target of Islamic fundamentalists, arrived at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on Friday morning and was immediately whisked away by security agencies to an undisclosed destination, official sources said.
The future plans of the writer, who shot to fame with her controversial book Lajja, were not immediately known.
Her visa is valid till August 12. She has been requesting for permanent residentship in the country but the Government has not taken any decision on the issue
Taslima had left India on March 18 for Sweden after she was kept in a safe house in the national Capital for more than four months.
Taslima, who had not been allowed to see any visitors during the period, had described her confinement as living in "a chamber of death".
Taslima has lived in many countries in exile, including France, Sweden and India since 1994. During her stay in India in the last five years, she has periodically travelled abroad with the last trip being in November last year before she was bundled out of West Bengal.
Recipient of various awards, Taslima was shifted from Kolkata residence after violent protests marred parts of the metropolis over her controversial book Dwikhondito (divided into two).
Certain references by her in the book stirred a storm with some Muslim organisations demanding that she be asked to leave the State.
Taslima was packed off from Kolkata and shifted to Jaipur. The Rajasthan Government decided to shift her to Delhi after some Muslim organisations threatened state-wide protests against her stay
Despite the writer's wish to return to Kolkata, the Left Front Government in West Bengal did not pay any heed to her request.
The Bangladeshi author had said that she was "forced" to depart from Kolkata at such a short notice that she did not have time to even change her clothes.
The CPI(M) came under increasing attack on Taslima issue, with major national parties demanding protection and extension of her visa.
A Swedish passport holder, she flew to Sweden from Delhi on March 18 and was admitted to hospital.
Meanwhile in Kolkata, criticising the Centre for facilitating the return of the controversial writer to India, Muslim organisations in the city on Friday called for her immediate deportation from the country.
Holding a meeting under the banner of All-India Majlis-e Sura, the organisations said, "we are deeply disappointed and dejected by this step of the Centre, specifically Union Minister Pranab Mukherjee, that he has allowed Taslima to return to India."
Seeking her immediate deportation from India, they said, "we are looking forward to a positive response from the Centre."
"The Centre's step has definitely hurt sentiments of the Muslim community in India," said a statement signed by Aziz Mubaraki, Additional Chief Secretary to Shahi Imam of Tipu Sultan mosque.
All-India Minority Forum president Idris Ali described Taslima's return to India as "unfortunate and unexpected" and said it "will not be accepted by Muslims in India".
Source
ioneer