Congress rebukes Modi for his offer to host Taslima
New Delhi, Nov 27 (UNI) A day after criticising the Left Front and BJP governments in West Bengal and Rajasthan on the Taslima Nasreen issue, the Congress today appealed to the exiled Bangladeshi writer to be cautious and not to hurt or wound the feelings of persons of any section of the society.
''The Congress Party makes it clear that no citizen or person holding a valid visa is entitled to hurt or wound the feelings of persons of any section of the society,'' AICC Spokesman Abishek Manu Singhvi told mediapersons.
Dr Singhvi rebuked Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for his offer to host Ms Nasreen in his state, and said he (Mr Modi) should first come forward to protect the women of his state. ''Mr Modi has a lot of things to answer. We know what he did to women in Gujarat.'' In this context, he said it was strange that one BJP-ruled state (Rajasthan) expelled her and another one (Gujarat) opted to host her. This, Dr Singhvi, said was nothing but the strategy of the BJP to create internal discord within a minority community.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi told mediapersons separately that ''If Mr Narendra Modi wants atonement of his past sins (post-Godhra incidents), he is welcome. It will purify his soul and that of his party.'' He said External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee would make a statement in Lok Sabha on the Nasreen issue tomorrow.
Both Mr Dasmunsi and Dr Singhvi maintained that Ms Nasreen was very much in India only, but refused to reveal her present place of stay.
On the allegation of BJP that Ms Nasreen was ''abducted'' to an undisclosed destination, Dr Singhvi said ''We don't believe in state-sponsored kidnappings.'' ''Taslima Nasreen has been coming to India time and again. It is the duty of the state government to give her protection under the law but no person is entitled to hurt the religious feelings of any section of the society,'' Dr Singhvi said, while dismissing a question on if the government proposed to deport the popular woman writer who is facing threat from Muslim fundamentalist organisations.
On
the
BJP
allegation
that
Ms
Nasreen
was
made
to
run
for
her
life
after
she
was
granted
shelter
and
visa
to
stay
in
India,
Dr
Singhvi
said
it
was
for
the
state
government
to
ensure
maintenance
of
rule
of
law
which
includes
granting
protection
to
any
citizen
or
to
a
person
who
holds
a
valid
visa.
''The
law
and
order
is
a
state
subject.''
UNI