Hindu Vivek Kendra
A RESOURCE CENTER FOR THE PROMOTION OF HINDUTVA
   
 
 
«« Back
Bangladesh government appeasing killers of bloggers — Delhi’s the only South Asian place I can live: Taslima Nasreen

Author:
Publication: The Times of India
Date: June 10, 2015
URL: http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/the-interviews-blog/bangladesh-government-appeasing-killers-of-bloggers-delhis-the-only-south-asian-place-i-can-live-taslima-nasreen/

Recent reports suggested writer Taslima Nasreen had left India to relocate permanently to the US. Speaking with Rohit E David, Nasreen negated these reports, discussed appalling murders of secular bloggers in Bangladesh — and explained why India needs an Aam Aurat Party:

Q.: Why are you in America?
A.: Well, I travel for speeches. I also travel to meet family.

But recently, a Bangladeshi newspaper published a police report that the terrorist organisation killing atheist bloggers there planned to kill me in India — this disturbed me.

I spoke with friends. We decided it would be better if i stayed away from India for a while.

But the press all over the world published that i’ve moved to the US. It’s insane — India’s always on my mind.

All my books, my stuff and my pet cat are still in India.

However, more important than security threats was working with an American humanist organisation raising funds for rehabilitating threatened Bangladeshi bloggers.

Q.: Why are bloggers being killed in Bangladesh?
A.: In 1971, the Pakistani army killed Bengali intellectuals — in exactly the same manner, Islamic terrorists from Ansarullah Bangla Team, influenced by Anwar al-Awlaki, a former Yemen-based al-Qaida activist, have been brutally assassinating atheist intellectuals.

The intention of both killers is the same — they want no one but religious bigots and misogynists to remain in the country. They’ve already killed many free-thinking bloggers like Rajib Haider, Avijit Roy and others for being critical of Islam.

Instead of cracking down on the killers, the government looks on. It’s scared of being dubbed anti-Islam which may lead to losing votes — it’s the politics of appeasement.

Q.: Have you communicated with India’s government?
A.: I wish i could meet someone from the government! If i had an assurance from them, i would not have left India.

I needed a caring hand when i was devastated, seeing a blogger friend hacked to death.

But my stay in India isn’t finished. From exile in Europe, i moved to Kolkata. Even though i enjoyed Kolkata, i was used by politicians for their political interests.

I was forced to live under house arrest. After a staged riot, i was thrown out of West Bengal — i was put under house arrest in Delhi and forced to leave India.

But i didn’t give up — i kept coming to India. The government finally allowed me to reside in India.

Delhi is the only place in the Indian subcontinent where i can live — i’m happy i am in the subcontinent where i feel at home.

Q.: Don’t women live freely in Bangladesh?
A.: It’s very hard. Women are forced to wear burqas and hijabs. They’re treated as sub-humans.

Men are still their masters.

Q.: You’ve meanwhile said there should be an ‘Aam Aurat Party’ — please elaborate.
A.: Well, half the population is female and oppressed. Their problems must be solved socially and politically. Sweden ranks as one of the world’s most gender-egalitarian countries, based on a firm belief that men and women should share power equally. Sweden has a feminist party — why not India?

India needs a feminist party much more than Sweden.
 
«« Back
 
 
 
  Search Articles
 
  Special Annoucements