We uphold Taslima Nasrin’s right to speak forthrightly on any subject, including the burqa. It is her fundamental right. Instead of taking her on intellectually, her detractors are using a reprehensible way of suppressing her opinions. They are gathering outside her apartment in Calcutta, and demanding that the government should throw her out of the country. Keeping in mind that her visa expires by next week, this is a clear sign of intimidating her into retracting her views. It would be a shame if we who pride ourselves on our democratic traditions should refuse her asylum on this count. Or at the very least an extension of her visa.
KHUSHWANT SINGH, ARUNDHATI ROY, LEILA SETH, KULDIP NAYYAR, VIJAY TENDULKAR, ARUNA ROY, SHYAM BENEGAL, GIRISH KARNAD, SAEED NAQVI, Y.P. CHIBBER (GENERAL-SECRETARY, PUCL), SHANKER SINGH (MKSS, RAJASTHAN), NIKHIL DEY (MKSS, RAJASTHAN)
