The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Safe home?

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Thursday, Nov 29, 2007
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Safe home?

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s promise of a “safe home” to Taslima is the best joke of the year. His claim that Gujarat stands for peace and security and that it is known for safety for women is the perfect example of empty rhetoric.

Mr. Modi is perhaps under the impression that the people have forgotten what happened in Gujarat five years ago.

It was in his State and under his Chief Ministership that the worst communal riots, murder, rape, and looting took place. Victims of the 2002 riots are still languishing in relief camps. Cases are still dragging on.

D. Samuel Lawrence,

Madurai

* * *

While the BJP’s demand that Taslima be given Indian citizenship is welcome, one cannot but be sceptical about the saffron party’s concern for the writer. Its stand has more to do with the coming Assembly elections in Gujarat. Mr. Modi’s offer of a “safe home” to the writer reinforces the fact. The Chief Minister should acknowledge that his State is still not a safe home for thousands of Muslim victims of the post-Godhra carnage.

B. Jayanna Krupakar,

Surathkal

* * *

The cartoon (Nov. 28) exposes the Hindutva brigade’s communal approach. What we are doing to Ms Nasreen is not fair to the Bengali writer whose literary mission is just to highlight the misery of women in Islamic society.

She has no pretences of being a social reformer. She confines herself to Bengal and its language. Mr. Modi’s promise of a safe home to her is aimed at using her as an anti-Islamic icon which she is not.

Col. C.V. Venugopalan (retd.),

Palakkad

* * *

If Mr. Modi indeed believes in freedom of expression, why doesn’t he convince the sangh parivar that artist M.F. Husain’s freedom should also be respected?

K.C. Thomas,

Mumbai

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