Milli Ittehad demands Taslima's deportation

Kolkata, Aug 27 (UNI) Milli Ittehad (MI), a conglomeration of nine muslim bodies, today served an ultimatum to the Union and West Bengal governments, demanding deportation of self-exiled Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen or face consequences.

MI's convenor and Jamiyat Ullamaya Hind chief Moulana Siddhikulla Chadhury told newsmen that the onus of deporting the controversial writer was on the Union and West Bengal governments.

''If the Centre and the state government do not take any action against the author and deport her at the earliest, we would be forced to drive her out from the country. She has blasphemed the society and is now trying to divide the people of the country. It's our challenge to both Centre and state government,'' he said.

The author of ''Lajja'' and ''Dwikhandito'' was recently given six months extension of her stay in India, a day after she was attacked by a political party in Hyderabad on August 25.

The conglomerate comprised Jamayet Islami Hind, Jamayet Ahaleh Hadis, Bereli Motadoarh Immam, Imane E-dhaine, Anjuma Tarraki Urdu, Congress Minority cell, Minority Fourm and Muslim Council of Faith.

They also demanded seizure of all books of Taslima Nasreen.

The Milli Ittehad in a memorandum to Prime Minster Monmohan Singh and West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said if the writer was not driven out from India by next fortnight, they will block her movement and gherao her temporary shelter in Kolkata.

''We would launch direct Democratic movement against the writer within the next two weeks. We expect a reply to our memorandum by that time, '' stated Jamayet Ismali Hind Chief Rahamat Ali Khan.

UNI