New Delhi, July 19 (IANS). Bangladeshi writer and social activist Taslima Nasreen has given clarification on the controversy arising over her visit to Kolkata. He wrote a long post on the social media platform ‘X’ saying that the organization that called him to Kolkata is ‘Secular Mission’, which is led by progressive Muslim Usman Ghani Mallik. He clarified that neither the BJP is taking him to Kolkata nor the West Bengal government is calling him.
Taslima Nasreen said that the West Bengal government is only making their security arrangements, which is a normal administrative responsibility of any state government. She said that whenever she goes to any state, the government there makes arrangements for her security.
The writer alleged that some leftist leaders were giving a political color to her visit to Kolkata and accusing her of being a supporter of BJP or Hindutva. He said that the same people who had earlier forced him to move out of West Bengal are now questioning his return to the state.
Taslima said in her post that she had visited Kerala several times before on the invitation of the Left government, where she was welcomed and also given security. He raised the question why such questions were not raised about him at that time.
She said that she is returning to Kolkata after about 18 years, 8 months and 10 days and this visit is only for two days, yet controversy is being created about it. He alleged that the previous Left Front government in West Bengal and later the Trinamool Congress government had prevented him from coming to the state. He also claimed that programs related to his writings and books were also banned.
Taslima Nasreen said that her aim is to promote education, scientific thinking, women’s rights and equality in Muslim society. He alleged that some people disagree with his views and hence oppose him.
He also said that the quality of a writer’s works can be debated, but it is not appropriate to threaten a writer or force him to leave the country on this basis. Supporting freedom of expression, he said that criticizing any idea or religion is also part of freedom of speech.
–IANS
SCH/VC