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Guests shouldn’t create problems: Pranab

Special Correspondent

“It is the tradition of our country to give shelter to a person seeking it.”

Pranab Mukherjee

KOLKATA: External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said here on Saturday that while it was India’s tradition to provide shelter to someone seeking it, guests were also expected not to create problems. He was answering a question on Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen.

Talking on the sidelines of a function organised by the Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC), Mr. Mukherjee said, “It is the tradition of our country to give shelter to a person seeking it. But we also expect our guests not to do anything that will make problems either for the citizens or the countrymen.”

Asked about her arrival on Friday or her whereabouts or whether he has held any talks with West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee with regard to Ms. Nasreen, Mr. Mukherjee said: “I have no knowledge and it is not possible for a Foreign Minister to keep track of a guest or where she will come.”

Ms. Nasreen has just returned to India from Sweden. She had always expressed her keenness to stay in Kolkata from where she was whisked away last year on security grounds, following protests from some religious groups.

Mr. Mukherjee noted that accounting for a 20 per cent share in India’s exports, the engineering segment was the single largest foreign exchange earner among merchandise goods.

To pleas by the council of extending export benefits given by the government during the times of rupee appreciation, he stressed on the need to calibrate government measures in tune with times and needs of various industry-segments while formulating policies.

However, he felt that some of the problems being felt now would solve themselves by 2010 when the Goods and Services Tax would be introduced. Mr. Mukherjee also unveiled the new logo of the council.

EEPC chairman Rakesh Shah said that moving with times, the Council decided to change its name to EEPC India, which would operate on a wider canvas and emerge as an engineering trade promotion council catering to the needs of the engineering industry.

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