Click to play videoNew Delhi: On Sunday, author Taslima Nasrin was an inconvenient guest checking into the Capital, bringing in her wake more controversies than the Centre can handle. Soon, the politics over her stay began in full earnest.
West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee - already under fire for his mishandling of Nanidgram - welcomed her back but later did a U-turn and denied ever having taken a stand to welcome the Bangladeshi author back.
The BJP lapped up the opportunity to take on the Government and upped its ante on Taslima’s presence in the country, accusing the Centre of bowing to Islamic fundamentalists.
The party insisted Taslima could no longer be the victim of religious persecution. “She should be given the status of a political refugee, just like Dalai Lama,” said BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar.
For the moment, the Hindutva brigade is flaunting its secular credentials with Rajasthan government even granting Taslima the status of state guest.
But Congress finds itself defending its Left ally.
“They did not permit her to land in Rajasthan. This is about doublespeak and nothing else,” said Congress leader Tom Vadakkan.
While on Saturday, the Bengal government had backtracked, saying Taslima was welcome back. But that's not what its said in a report it sent to the Union Home Ministry. Sources told CNN-IBN that the state government has expressed its inability to guarantee Taslima's security.
By raising the pitch the NDA may have forced the Centre to take a stand and take it soon before this political potboiler spills over. But whatever the decision, the outcome is likely to scald the Congress and the CPM alike.
(With inputs from Neelu Vyas)
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