Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Taslima’s remarks

In her parting shot, Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen has accused the Indian government of confining her to a “torture chamber” since November 2007, when she was moved to an undisclosed safe location in New Delhi.

Ms Nasreen has been ungrateful to the country that offered her shelter. She will regret her behaviour after trotting around the world.

K.N. Bhagavan,

Bangalore

The same Indian government, which Taslima has accused of torturing her, offered her a helping hand when she was exiled from Bangladesh. She should be obliged to India.

The government decided to move her to an undisclosed location in Delhi for her sake. She must apologise for the damage she has caused to India’s image.

Neha Saxena,

Moradabad

Ms Nasreen should not have said such uncharitable things about the government after enjoying its hospitality and protection for years. She embarrassed the country which offered her shelter when she expressed opinions that hurt a large section of the population.

Is it possible for the government to waste its time, resources and energy on setting right the damage done to communal peace by persons like her? The government is also to blame because it gave too long a rope to Taslima.

Vani Iyengar,

Bangalore

It is good for us to distance ourselves from those who write offending and controversial books with their limited knowledge in the name of freedom of speech. Let those who want to speak the truth do so among their own people without fear or favour. A person who runs for cover to save her skin is only doing a disservice to the cause of truth. Many saints of our country were highly critical of our society but were revered for their honesty and courage.

S.R. Devaprakash,

Tumkur

Taslima’s departure from India bears testimony to the fact that freedom of speech and expression can be curbed by bringing pressure on a person. The use of force by any group, fundamentalists or otherwise, shows that we have a long way to go on the path of tolerance.

Srinivas Nyayapati,

Bangalore

By moving Taslima to an undisclosed location in Delhi, the government kept her under virtual house arrest. To expect someone to live without any link to civil society is indeed torture. Will the government explain why such secrecy shrouded Taslima’s stay in Delhi? If what Taslima has alleged is true, it is shameful that we did not provide adequate medical care to her.

S. Sudhir Kumar,

Hyderabad

India has sacrificed its culture, hospitality, tolerance and many other noble virtues to appease a handful of narrow-minded elements that were bent on driving Taslima out of the country.

P.U. Krishnan,

Udhagamandalam

The circumstances under which Taslima had to leave India make sad reading. The absence of wholehearted support and protection from the government will only strengthen the hands of the elements hounding her. It is all the more unfortunate that the Congress and the Left failed the real test because of their apathy and inaction.

N.S. Shenoy,

Coimbatore

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