BJP demands citizenship to Taslima Nasreen

New Delhi, Nov 21:The BJP today demanded Indian citizenship or permanent residency status to Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen, saying the government should not give in to the demands of fundamentalist forces seeking her expulsion from the country.

Opposing the demand for deporting the author of 'Lajja', BJP Parliamentary Party Spokesman Vijay Kumar Malhotra said the demand by All India Muslim Forum in Kolkata and some MPs in Parliament was against Indian spirit which had offered shelter to Dalai Lama when China invaded and occupied Tibet.

Ms Nasreen who has been hounded out by fundamentalist forces in Bangladesh should be allowed to stay permanently, if she cannot be given citizenship. The anti-Hindu forces in India were now ganging up against the poor lady for questioning the oligarchy in her home country, Mr Malhotra said.

The government should never succumb to such demands be it by the fundamentalists on the streets of Kolkata or a section of MPs inside Parliament, he said.

UNI