Center ready to assist WB on Taslima security: Pranab

Bangalore, Dec 27(UNI) The UPA government is ready to assist West Bengal government in providing security to controversial Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen if she chose to return to Kolkata, External minister Pranab Kumar Mukherjee said here today.

Speaking to newspersons on the sidelines of the 80th annual conference of the 'Nikhil Bharat Banga Sahithya Sammelan', Mr Mukherjee said that the Bangladeshi writer was being given sufficient security in Delhi as it was the center's responsibility.

Responding to veteran CPI(M) leader Jyoti Basu's statement that Taslima was welcome to return to Kolkata if the Center could ensure her security, Mr Mukherjee said that if West Bengal government sought for any assistance in providing security to the writer, Center will consider it. "Actually the security of an individual is the responsibility of the state government. However we will be only glad to cooperate," he said.

UNI