Taslima says feeling safer under centre's protection

New Delhi, Nov 27 (UNI) Exiled Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen, who was shifted to an undisclosed location last night by Intelligence Bureau(IB), said today that she felt safer under the centre's protection.

''I have lost Bangladesh, I do not want to lose India,'' said the Bengali novelist who is on self-exile in India following death threats in Bangladesh.

Taslima, who was shifted from Rajasthan House here, told a private TV channel that she was fine but was not allowed to disclose her location.

Ms Nasreen said she did not know her exact location though she had asked security personnel accompanying her many times. Her repeated queries regarding for how long she had to remain in hiding has remained unanswered.

The author said she did not know where she would be taken next.

Meanwhile, the Home Ministry on whose instructions IB sleuths shifted Taslima to undisclosed destination last night, refused to comment on the issue today.

Earlier, the Home ministry had clarified that Taslima was in India on a valid visa and the Centre would provide her security.

Ms Nasreen was forced to leave Kolkata for Jaipur on Thursday last after a Muslim organisation, All India Minority Forum, demanded cancellation of her visa and her deportation to Bangladesh over her critical writings on Islam, considered blasphemous by the Muslim community.

She had reached here from the Pink city on November 23 after being hounded from West Bengal following widespread protests there.

Since then she was residing in Rajasthan House here.

Ms Nasreen, who had fled Bangladesh in 1994 to live the life of a fugitive since then, has been living in Kolkata from 2004.

UNI