Exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasrin has accused the Mamata Banerjee authorities in West Bengal of stifling the voices of artists and writers.
Taslima Nasrin claimed that the play ‘Lajja’ (disgrace), tailored from her novel, was pressured to be cancelled at two theatre festivals within the state.
She alleged that the police intervened at two theatre festivals, the Gobardanga Natyoutsav in North 24 Parganas and the Pandua Natyoutsav in Hooghly, pressuring organisers to take away the play from the schedule, citing considerations that it may provoke communal riots, information company PTI reported.
“Whereas the schedule of the play had been introduced two months again, swiftly the police prevailed upon the organisers to omit ‘Lajja’ from the checklist. Let me remind you, a theatre group had staged the identical play thrice in Delhi earlier than a packed auditorium,” she wrote in a Fb put up on Monday.
Nasrin criticised the West Bengal administration for utilizing the excuse that the play may result in violence.
“I used to be pressured to go away West Bengal with the apprehension that my presence would provoke fundamentalists to engineer riots. I can not fathom why no motion is taken in opposition to the rioters and the voices of free expression by writers are being muzzled,” she stated.
BJP backs Taslima Nasrin, assaults Mamata Banerjee
The opposition Bharatiya Janata Occasion (BJP) backed Taslima Nasrin’s claims, with Union minister Sukanta Majumdar accusing Mamata Banerjee of hypocrisy.
“The little distinction between fundamentalists in Bangladesh and West Bengal Chief Minister has ceased to exist, as she is just not permitting a preferred stage play of protest in opposition to fundamentalism, apprehending it can result in riots,” PTI quoted Majumdar as saying.
He additionally alleged that Banerjee has ignored assaults on Hindu locations of worship and desecration of idols in West Bengal whereas silencing intellectuals who oppose her insurance policies.
BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya posted, “If Mamata Banerjee is unable to handle legislation and order in Bengal and is so intimidated by Muslim veto that even artwork, tradition, and freedom of expression are being stifled, then she ought to think about stepping down.”
Organisers of the Gobardanga theatre pageant confirmed that ‘Lajja’ was faraway from the lineup, however they declined to supply any additional causes. State police officers have neither confirmed nor denied the involvement of the administration in halting the play.
