Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen is literally on the run, after fleeing from Kolkata and seeking refuge in Jaipur, Taslima is now on her way to the capital New Delhi. Her departure to Delhi at 6: 30 am came amid threats by a Muslim organisation, the All India Milli Council, to hold demonstrations in the city if the writer was kept in the state for long.
At 6 am this morning (November 23), she was whisked away from her hotel in Jaipur in a government-owned car with VIP number plates, escorted by the Rajasthan police with the media in hot pursuit.
The police at first appeared clueless over where to take the controversial author. In an attempt to ward off the media, she was first taken to Amer. There was even a minor scuffle between the media and the police over access to Taslima. The police finally made up its mind and Taslima is now headed towards Delhi, most likely to knock on the Centre’s doors to bail her out of the current crisis.
The contoversial Bangladeshi author fled to Rajasthan a day after anti-Taslima protests singed Kolkata, and the CPI(M) issued an ultimatum asking her to leave West Bengal in the interest of peace within the state.
After reportedly being refused entry into several hotels in Jaipur, Nasreen had finally lodged in ‘Hotel Shikha’ amid heavy security, locked for outsiders and with a huge security cordon.
Centre to decide
Meanwhile Government sources tell TIMES NOW that the Indian government, having given the author asylum, is greatly concerned about her security and that the Cabinet Committee on Security met today (November 23) under the leadership of External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee to discuss the issue at length.
The Home Minister Shivraj Patil wasa also expected to reply to a question on the issue in the Parliament session today.
Divergent views have been emerging from various quarters over how to handle the situation – Revolutionary Socialist Party leader Abani Roy has criticised the CPI(M) move to shunt the author out of West Bengal, saying the government having given asylum to a leader cannot throw her out.
Ironically Nasreen’s hasty exit from BJP-ruled Rajasthan today comes after the Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday (November 21) demanded that Nasreen be given full protection and citizenship, and upheld the right to freedom of speech. The party criticised Left Front Chairman Biman Bose’s comment that Nasreen should leave West Bengal.
It is interesting to note the Rajasthan government said it was taken by surprise when the author landed in Jaipur yesterday. following violent protests against her that rocked Kolkata on Wednesday (November 21).
"Protect Taslima"
British parlimentarian Lord Meghnad Desai today minced no words saying that the Indian Government should take necessary steps to protect the author despite what he called "fascist" resistance.
"I think the Government should say point blank – that Taslima is a guest here and will be protected regardless of whoever wants her out – The forces against her are outrageously facist – one has to call it Fascism because that is what it is," said Desai.
CPI(M) retracts anti-Taslima statements
Taslima’s unceremonious and hasty exit from West Bengal of course comes at the back of vociferous protests by the All India Muslim Front on Wednesday (November 21). Kolkata which had been home to the author for some time, in a matter of hours was engulfed with voices of rage over her presence.
Agitators demanded that she leave immediately, and what was worse was the reaction from the ruling Left that echoed these voices asking Nasreen to leave to ensure peace.
"The Chief Minister offered her refuge at the request of two central ministers. But if that disrupts peace in our state then it is better that she leaves our state," said Bose on Wednesday (November 21).
CPI(M) state Secretary Biman Bose’s statement was in sharp contrast to the Centre’s stand on the author which was echoed by senior CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta. Dasgupta said he "strongly disagreed" with Bose.
The condemnation was so strong that Bose was forced to retract his statement and say that it was up to the Union Government to take action.
"I on behalf of the state party (CPI-M) would like to make the people aware that I revise my statement of last night. Let the Union Government take an appropriate decision on this
issue," said Bose later.
The author meanwhile, shaken by these statements, has not made any public comments so far seems unsure of her future – probably reminded of the time not too long ago when she had to face the ire of fundamentalists making similar demands, at book launch in Hyderabad.