Stressed and unhappy, you can leave: India tells Taslima

New Delhi, Feb 13 (UNI) New Delhi has firmly told controversial Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen that she was free to leave India if she was feeling ''unhappy or stressed'' over the manner in which she has been staying in this country at present.

The Foreign Office also told her that the government was yet to take a decision on extending her visa, which expires on February 18.

This was conveyed to Ms Nasreen by senior External Affairs Ministry officials here a few days ago, according to her publisher Ritu Menon.

''We have not yet decided whether to extend your visa. But, if you are granted an extension, you would have to live the way you are living at present.

''If we set you free, ten people would be killed on streets. We have to come to a decision according to our own assessment,'' Ms Menon quoted the External Affairs Ministry officials as having told Ms Nasreen.

To this, Ms Menon said the Bangladeshi author told the officials that she was not ''happy'' the way she has been living here.

''Taslima also told them that she is feeling stressed,'' the publisher quoted Ms Nasreen whom she met after she was summoned to the External Affairs Ministry.

''The officials told her (Ms Nasreen) that if she was feeling unhappy and stressed here, she can leave the country. To this, Taslima told them where would she go? This (India) is her home,'' Ms Menon claimed while intervening during a news conference here.

The publisher alleged that the government was trying to exert pressure on Ms Nasreen so that she leaves the country.

UNI AG AT BD1935