Will return to India: Taslima

Kolkata, June 3

Controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen, who has relocated to the US after death threats by radicals from her country, today said she has not left India permanently and will return when she feels safe.

“Was threatened by Islamists who killed atheist bloggers in B’desh. Worried. Wanted to meet GOI (Government of India). No appointment. Left. Will be back when feel safe,” Nasreen tweeted.

New York-based advocacy group Center for Inquiry had yesterday said they had helped her relocate from India following threats by radicals responsible for killing three secular bloggers in Bangladesh since February.

“I often go to USA. To give lectures & to see my family.

I havn’t left India permanently. Indian govt always provides security,” Nasreen, whose books like ‘Lajja’ and ‘Dwikhandito’ have attracted the ire of fundamentalists, said in another tweet.

The 52-year-old writer has been living in exile since 1994 in the wake of death threats by Muslim fundamentalist outfits.

After a long stay in Europe she took refuge in India in 2004. She stayed in Kolkata, which she called her home till 2007 when she was bundled out following violent protests by Muslims against her work.

She stayed in an undisclosed location in New Delhi for about seven months till she left for Sweden, which granted her citizenship.

She, however, returned to Delhi and has been continuously getting Indian visa.

“Pet cat is waiting,” she said in her tweets today. — PTI