Controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen should apologise for 'criticising God' or else she will not have a 'place to hide', Farooq Abdullah said.
VIJAYWADA: Controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen should apologise for 'criticising God' or else she will not have a 'place to hide', National Conference patron Farooq Abdullah said here on Saturday.
"She has been turned out of her country. If she wants to stay here, she must say she is sorry," the former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister said here.
Pointing to violence in Kolkata, he contended that there was a possibility of flare-up in other parts of the country.
"She will not have a place to hide. Kolkata flared up. The same happened in Hyderabad. And what if that happens in other parts of the country where she goes?" he said.
Abdullah said in the presence of other UNPA leaders --Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav, Chandrababu Naidu of TDP, INLD chief Om Prakash Chautala, Jharkhand Vikas Party leader Babu Lal Marandi and Asom Gana Parishad Chief Brindavan Goswami.
Abdullah, however, steered clear on demands that Taslima be sent back to her native country.
"I am not an authority to decide on whether asylum should be given to her or not. But as far as she is here, she needs to respect religion. Criticising God is a sin," he said.
Asked about the issue of right to expression, a furious Abdullah said "she must not play with religion because by this she has to pay price not only for herself but for the country."
As Abdullah faced tough questions, Naidu intervened to say that it was a UNPA resolution that every religion needs be respected and the sentiments should be taken care of.
Naidu clarified that the alliance was not at all demanding the cancellation of visa to the Bangladeshi writer.
Sensing that UNPA's main agenda of farmers' issue was getting hijacked, Chautala asked the media to better focus on the anti-farmer policies of the UPA government and not to indulge in 'divisive issues'.
During the press conference, Abdullah raised the issue of alleged human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir and said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should fulfil his promise of 'zero tolerance' on it.
On being referred to his recent statement questioning his state's accession with the Union of India, the National Conference leader said, "There is no question of any regret about the accession to India but government should understand that we are the people who are targeted."
He suggested that people in the valley were unhappy over the recent cases of alleged human rights violations.
The former Chief Minister demanded the submission and implementation of the reports of the five committees formed by the Prime Minister on Jammu and Kashmir.
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