BJP wants centre to act on Taslima Nasreen issue

Lucknow, Nov 25 (UNI) The BJP today said the Centre should decide the fate of controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen at the earliest.

''BJP has always supported Ms Nasseen's stay in the country and would demand the Centre to make her a permanent national to prevent anti-national elements from raising their heads,'' said former BJP national president and senior leader Murli Manohar Joshi here.

Talking to reporters, Dr Joshi said the shifting of the Bangladeshi writer from Rajasthan to Delhi was on the dictate of the Centre and it had nothing to do with the BJP government of Rajasthan.

He noted that if the Centre bowed to the pressure of the radical forces on Taslima issue, then it will send a wrong message to the world community about India's secular character.

The Bengali novelist, on self-exile in India following death threats in Bangladesh, had to shift from Jaipur to Delhi on Friday night after the All India Milli Council threatened to hold protests, if the writer was kept in Rajasthan for long.

Earlier, she was shifted from Kolkata to Jaipur on Thursday after a Muslim organisation demanded cancellation of her visa and her deportation to Bangladesh.

UNI