India to provide shelter to Taslima Nasreen: Pranab Mukherjee

The Government today said that controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen would continue to get shelter in India but was expected to refrain from any activity that may hurt the sentiments of the people.

New Delhi, Nov 28 : The Government today said that controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen would continue to get shelter in India but was expected to refrain from any activity that may hurt the sentiments of the people.

Making a statement in the Lok Sabha, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said "throughout history, India has never refused shelter to those who have come and sought our protection."

Mukherjee, who made the statement amid demands that Taslima be asked to leave the country, said the guests in India are provided protection by the Union and State governments.

"This policy will also apply in Taslima's case," the Minister said as he noted the issue related to the Bangladeshi writer had attracted "considerable public attention" in recent days.

Mukherjee's statement came as Nasreen continued to be at an undisclosed place under the custody of the Central Government.

Taslima arrived in Delhi on Friday evening after being taken to Jaipur from Kolkata following protests by people belonging to the minority community.

The BJP, on Sunday, had demanded political refugee status for Taslima.

Taslima's visa to stay in India is valid till February 17, 2008, and she has been living in exile for over ten years.

Since the 1990s, she has faced numerous threats from Islamic groups for her writings. Recently, activists of the Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) attacked her at a book release function in Hyderabad.

The European Parliament awarded her the Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought in 1994.

ANI