New Delhi

I want to go back to Kolkata soon: Taslima

NEW DELHI: “I am fine. But I am not giving any official interviews to the media. I just want to head back home as soon as possible,” is all that controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen said in a brief telephonic conversation with The Hindu over the weekend.

Lodged at the Rajasthan House here as the State government’s guest, Ms. Nasreen reportedly confided to her visitors that she had received no official calls from the West Bengal government asking her to return as was reported in some sections of the media.

All-India Progressive Women Association general secretary Kumudini Pati, who along with Bhasha Singh of the Jan Sanskriti Manch, visited the writer on Sunday evening, said: “Taslima told us that she would have been on her way back to Kolkata had there been any invitation to do so. No one has so far asked her to come back. Any information suggesting otherwise is not true.”

Ms. Pati said: “What is happening to Taslima can be best described as a witch-hunt. We will not allow or tolerate creative people being used as political pawns. We are planning to organise a rally soon in support of the writer.

“Both the killings at Nandigram and the case of Rizwanur have hurt the sentiments of the Muslim community in West Bengal and Taslima’s ouster from Kolkata seems more like a political move.”

Lodged amid heavy security, the writer had a busy day on Sunday. “She called for all the newspapers in the morning, watched a bit of the India-Pakistan cricket match and caught up with the latest news on television about her. She also spoke to us about religion, intolerance and how India had become her home. Though still under stress, she did take some calls today [on Sunday].

“We have had a request from a group of writers who wanted to meet her. Our Chief Minister has been in touch with her. We have ensured that we make her comfortable and that her privacy is protected,” said Commissioner Public Relations, Rajasthan Government, Rohit Kumar Singh.

He added that the State government so far had no communication about the writer being handed over to the Central government or about any change in her security drill. “Taslima has been assured that she is welcome to stay with us as our guest as long as she wants. But the writer is understandably keen on returning home to Kolkata as soon as possible,” added Mr. Singh.

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