In an express warning to controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen, the United Nationalist Progress Alliance (UNPA), a confederation of regional parties, on November 24 said she should desist from attacking any religion and apologise for what she has written in her book, if she wants to stay here in peace.
“If she wants to stay in peace and let others stay in peace, she should say sorry for what she has written and must not repeat the kind of utterances she has been making,” National Conference Patron and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah told mediapersons after the UNPA adopted a multi-issue resolution, including Taslima issue, in Vijayawada.
“She can’t play with religion and attacking religion in any form is condemnable. You had seen the flare-up in Kolkata and earlier in Hyderabad. One cannot say what will happen if she goes to another city,” Abdullah said.
Going beyond the resolution adopted at the UNPA meeting ahead of the “Rythu Garjana” (farmers’ voice) rally here, Abdullah said, “She had to pay price not only for herself but for the country. If she continues to attack religion, then she will not find any place to hide.”
Having virtually been expelled from Kolkata, Taslima has been on the run. She had gone to Jaipur from where she has been shifted to some undeclared place in or around Delhi.
The meeting was attended by Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh, Jharkhand Vikas Party chief and former state Chief Minister Babulal Marandi and AGP chief Brindaban Goswami.