The intelligentsia in West Bengal has expressed indignation and outrage at Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen being taken to Rajasthan following the violence during a shutdown to demand cancellation of her visa.
Magsaysay Award winning writer Mahasweta Devi said, "When the police are involved, then the government is also involved. The government has kow-towed to communal pressure. This is very bad."
Writer Sunil Gangopadhay said, "It's a matter of shame and regret that the unjust demand of fundamentalists has been met. This is improper. Why should the government bow to fundamentalists?"
Poet Shankha Ghosh was also vociferous.
"I do not think this is correct. An unjustified demand has been acceded to at the pressure of fundamentalists. This will embolden fundamentalist forces," Ghosh, an academy award winner said.
Celebrated actor Soumitra Chatterjee said, "Taslima had a valid visa for her stay here. She was not staying illegally. She was our guest. She should have been allowed to stay in West Bengal."
"I don't agree with those who are saying that she should not stay here. I also condemn in the strongest terms those who demonstrated, seeking cancellation of her visa," said Chatterjee, a pro-CPI(M) actor and Satyajit Ray find.
"But it is not clear to me who took her to Rajasthan and whether she went of her own," he said.
All India Minority Forum President Idris Ali, who had called Wednesday's shutdown which spiralled into violence, however, welcomed the development.
"It's good that Taslima has gone from West Bengal. The government was forced to heed to the demand of the people, especially Muslims," he said.
"The government understood there would be serious law and order problem in the state if she remained here," Ali said.
