Taslima on the run once again

Flees Jaipur and arrives on Delhi outskirts

NEW DELHI: Driven first out of Kolkata and then Jaipur, controversial Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen is in for a period of confinement, with security concerns forcing government agencies to keep her out of bounds for people. She may Kolkata, but there was no confirmation on when this would happen.

According to reports last received, she was lodged at an undisclosed place around Gurgaon near Delhi after being moved out of Jaipur early on Friday. There were reports that she may go off to London.

Official sources, however, said Nasreen had so far not contacted any European mission in the capital for a visa, indicating she was in no mood to flee the country which has been home to her for several years.  
 
She was moved to Jaipur by the Kolkata police after Thursday’s violent demonstrations against her. But with the All India Milli Council threatening an agitation against her arrival, the Jaipur police moved her out on Friday, bringing her towards Delhi. The Union ministry for home affairs (MHA) claimed the Rajasthan government had not consulted or informed it before despatching Taslima towards Delhi.

The BJP deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, Sushma Swaraj, said Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje had called up Union home minister Shivraj Patil and objected to the fact that she was not consulted before Taslima was moved to Jaipur. The state government was not prepared to play host to her, particularly in the wake of the trouble that various Muslim groups had been making.

Sushma said it was the Centre’s responsibility to give adequate protection to her. The central government had given her a visa and it was incumbent on it to give shelter to the author. “We would like her to be given permanent shelter and also Indian citizenship. The BJP wants the government to come out clearly on the subject,” BJP spokesman VK Malhotra had said two days ago.

The home ministry said Taslima was in the country on a valid visa and wherever she goes she will have to be provided security. If necessary, the ministry would take up the matter with the concerned state government. Muslim groups are demanding that Taslima Nasreem’s visa should not be extended when it expires in February. The centre is unlikely to give in to this demand, sources said.

The cabinet committee on security met after Taslima’s Jaipur escapade. Wary of a similar situation developing in Delhi, it was decided to keep her outside the capital.

In an interview to a Bengali daily, Taslima said she was worried about her safety in Rajasthan and wanted to be in Delhi. She hoped to meet foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee and information and broadcasting minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi in the capital.

According to the Bengali daily, Taslima said she had been advised to leave Kolkata by the West Bengal police. In fact, the authorities in West Bengal had initially suggested that she take a break and go to any of the European countries. Taslima turned down the suggestion.

But after she reached Jaipur, the Kolkata police spoke to her and said she could return back to the city whenever she wanted. They were worried that in the current volatile situation, mobs enraged by her writing could try to target her home. This was why the police had asked her to leave the city, Taslima told the Bengali daily. But she did not say exactly when she intended to get back to Kolkata.