Author: FPJ Delhi Bureau
Publication: Free Press Journal
Date: November 28, 2007
Exiled Bangladesh writer Taslima Nasreen,
who was whisked away from Rajasthan House late Monday night, has gone into
hiding in Delhi under Centre's security wrap. Personnel of the Central security
agencies woke her up from sleep well past midnight at the Rajasthan guest
house, her temporary abode for the last four days, and asked her to accompany
them to a "safe house" at an undisclosed location.
A top source said she has been lodged by the
Intelligence Bureau in a flat in South Delhi; she has been told that she better
stop pining for Kolkata for some time. The decision on Taslima was possibly
taken after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh chaired a meeting of the Union Cabinet.
Though the issue of Nasreen was not on the agenda, sources in the government
said it was discussed informally after which a decision in this regard is
believed to have been taken.
The Centre will clarify its stand on the author
when Minister of State for External Affairs Minister Anand Sharma makes a
statement in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. The deputy speaker directed the government
to make the statement after BJP deputy leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra sought
to know her "whereabouts," expressing concern in the House on Tuesday
over the mysterious manner in which she was removed from the Rajasthan Government's
guest house at midnight.
Taslima had been staying in Kolkata since
2004 on a resident visa that is renewed every six months and is currently
valid till February 17. Earlier, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi offered
shelter to Taslima in his state. At an election rally in Bhavnagar, Modi had
praised Taslima for speaking out against the fundamentalists and said: "If
the Central government cannot look after her, send her to Gujarat. The people
and government of Gujarat will look after her. I have the courage to protect
her."
According to sources, Modi's assertion precipitated
matters and the UPA government decided to relocate Taslima and take her into
its 'protective custody.' Of course, when Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priya
Ranjan Dasmunsi was asked about Modi's offer, the former sarcastically said
there was nothing wrong if someone wanted to "atone for his sins of the
past."
The Congress sources poohpoohed Modi's offer,
pointing out that he had perhaps not consulted senior BJP leader Lal Krishna
Advani. At the BJP briefing, Prof. V K Malhotra said it was unfortunate that
the Centre did not even think it worthwhile to inform the Rajasthan Government
about the relocation.
He described the late night shifting of Taslima
to an undisclosed location by the Central government as a "strange incident."
The Home Ministry sources, however, said the writer held a valid Indian visa
and it was the government's responsibility to provide her appropriate security.
