The Hindu : National : Taslima will continue to get asylum: Pranab

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Nov 30, 2007
ePaper

National

National

Taslima will continue to get asylum: Pranab

Sandeep Joshi

“But those living in asylum must not disturb public harmony”

NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday said India would continue to give asylum to Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen.

He, however, cautioned those living in asylum to behave in “a certain way” and not to disturb public harmony.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Mr. Mukherjee said the government was extending Ms. Nasreen’s visa every six months. She was given visa in August 2006. Her current visa term expires in February, he told the House.

The Minister said those given asylum should refrain from political activity. Their act should not harm India’s friendly relations with any other country and they should not hurt the sentiments of any community.

“If they do so, there are provisions in the law to deal with them. Law isn’t helpless.”

“We have a tradition … whoever has sought asylum from us, we have given it. But we expect them to behave in a certain way. They cannot cause disturbance to public harmony. Though the Constitution grants freedom of speech, everyone should exercise reasonable restrictions,” Mr. Mukherjee said.

“Problems are arising because we are becoming intolerant. There is no reason to indulge in vandalism … We have been the propagators of universal humanism and brotherhood,” the Minister added.

Double standards

Earlier, members sought the Centre’s intervention to ensure the safe and speedy return of celebrated painter M.F. Husain to India. They accused the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, whose members boycotted the House proceedings, of adopting double standards by attacking Mr. Husain and defending Ms. Nasreen.

Lambasting the BJP and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for coming out in support of Ms. Nasreen, Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP Sitaram Yechury said the BJP was indulging in “political opportunism” and pursing its “diabolical agenda” of polarising society.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National