The Hindu : National : Thought of waiting indefinitely is unbearable: Taslima

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Monday, Dec 24, 2007
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Thought of waiting indefinitely is unbearable: Taslima

Special Correspondent

Pranab says Taslima is not under house arrest
“Why is Centre not letting me meet my friends?”

Kolkata: Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen — who now seems reconciled to the thought of spending some time now in the “safe house” where she has been put up for a month — would like to be given some idea of “how much longer” she was expected to stay there.

“If I am given some sort of a time frame, I will at least have a date to look forward to that will help me keep going with the hope of returning to a normal life some day in future,” Ms. Nasreen told The Hindu over telephone on Sunday.

“The uncertainty and the very thought of waiting indefinitely is unbearable,” Ms. Nasreen said.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee asserted here on Saturday that she was not under “house arrest” and was a “guest” in the country.

But the author said: “Why are they [the Centre] not even allowing some close friends of mine to visit me even though I am trying to settle — though difficult — to the idea of not being permitted to go outdoors.”

“Why can’t I expect the very least of a normal life if I am not under house arrest,” Ms. Nasreen asked.

She has been staying in an undisclosed location arranged for by the Centre since November 23, a day after she left Kolkata in the wake of violent demonstrations by supporters of the State unit of the All-India Minority Forum demanding revocation of her visa that was due to expire on February 17, 2008.

“There was a time when I could not have even imagined having to leave Kolkata. I was brought here for my protection and I have said that if I cannot return to that city I am willing to live in Delhi if the government of India so desires. I do not want to leave this country and be forced to go to some place in Europe or the United States,” she said.

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