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Exiled Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen had to cancel her visit to West Bengal's Midnapore district owing to protests from Muslim groups there.
In the face of protests by Jamat-e-Ulema-e-Hind, the district administration cancelled the programme Saturday where Taslima was to recite her poems.
"I am hurt. Why should we buckle under the pressure of the fundamentalists who even threatened to blow up the Mumbai airport when they heard that I was reaching there?" Taslima asked.
Police officials said though she had been assured security, the situation could've gone out of hand after her visit.
The group had blocked roads as part of weeklong protests against her visit. Police officials had to clamp the entire area where the programme was to be held.
The controversial writer, who had fled Bangladesh after Islamic fundamentalists accused her of committing blasphemy in her book, has lived in Europe, the US and India since then.
She has applied for an Indian citizenship amidst widespread protests by fundamentalist Muslim groups.
"I know that various groups are opposing to granting me citizenship. I can say that these Muslim organisations are not representative of the larger Muslim community in India," Taslima said.
"The government can hold a referendum
before taking a decision. I enjoy the support of the common people and
also numerous common Muslims," she added.
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