BJP expresses shock over Taslima's 'House Arrest'

New Delhi, Dec 21: Expressing shock over the reports about the restrictions on noted Bangladesh writer Taslima Nasreen, the BJP today said it was a shame that the UPA Government was treating her in this manner in a country, which has a philosophy of "Athithi Devo Bhawa" (Guest is God's messenger).

The party said the UPA was doing so for its own survival and under pressure from CPI-M, it had barred her from entering Kolkata. "The BJP, in the strongest possible terms, condemns the UPA and CPM for their dismal display of conduct in Taslima episode, which clearly establishes their complete submission to Islamic fundamentalists," a statement issued by BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar said.

The treatment meted out to Taslima has thrown up an important question as to how a victim of persecution is being treated by a civilizd state in which the victim has sought refuge, Mr Javadekar said, adding the Government's gesture amounted to further persecution of the writer.

Refering to the manner Taslima was evicted from Kolkata, the party said the government and CPM must understand that it was not the emergency days of 1975 "in which the then attorney general had infamously had the audacity to state that nobody has right to life if government wishes so."

UNI