A strong plea for giving adequate protection to controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen and even granting her Indian citizenship if she so desired was made by a Communist Party of India member in the Lok Sabha on Friday.
On Nasreen being shifted from Kolkata to Jaipur after violent protests rocked the city, party member Gurudas Dasgupta said, "It is a pity that she had to leave. I apologise for what has happened".
"A lady in distress should have a place to stay and I appeal to protect her," he said. He said he would be happy if she decided to stay in Kolkata and offered protection there.
He said if the Bangladeshi writer applies for Indian citizenship, the government should consider it in line with the highest traditions of India.
When he referred to the Dalai Lama's case to support his demand, Mohan Singh, who was in the chair, said the two cases were different.
Noting that Nasreen was 'hounded and harassed' in her own country, Dasgupta said that the eminent writer has said that she wanted to live and die in India.
"The country should not surrender to any form of fundamentalism", he said. Dasgupta's plea was opposed by Iliyas Azmi of the Bahukan Samaj Party who staged a walkout.
External affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee was present in the house and some opposition members, including those of the Bharatiya Janata Party, wanted him to respond. But Singh said that no minister can be forced to make any statement.
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