Taslima Nasreen withdraws controversial lines from her autobiographical novel

Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen on Friday said that she has decided to withdraw the controversial lines from her autobiographical novel Dwikhandita in the wake of the protests from a section of people in India.

Kolkata, Nov 30 : Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen on Friday said that she has decided to withdraw the controversial lines from her autobiographical novel 'Dwikhandita' in the wake of the protests from a section of people in India.

'Dwikhandita' (Split in Two), authored by Nasreen in 2002, recalls the incidents in Bangladesh in the 1980s when the military took over the power.

According to some reports, Nasreen, who is presently staying at an undisclosed location, claimed that she had written the book in support of the people who defended secular values.

"I had no intention to hurt anybody's sentiment," she was quoted, as saying.

Nasreen has reportedly already asked the publisher of the book 'People's Book Society' not to circulate its copies and come out with the next edition without the controversial lines.

Nasreen's latest decision comes days after External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in a suo motto statement in Lok Sabha that the former could continue to get shelter in India, but was expected to refrain from any activity that may hurt the sentiments of the people.

Nasreen was forced to move out of Kolkata following violent protests by people belonging to the minority community led by All India Minority Forum, who were demanding cancellation of her visa.

She arrived in Delhi on Friday evening after being sent to Jaipur from Kolkata.

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

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

ANI