Bangalore, Dec 27: The UPA Government at the Centre is ready to assist the West Bengal Government in providing security to controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen if she chooses to return to Kolkata, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said today.
Talking to newspersons on the sidelines of the 80th annual conference of the 'Nikhil Bharat Banga Sahithya Sammelan', he said the Bangladeshi writer was being given adequate security in Delhi as it was the Centre's responsibility. Responding to veteran CPI(M) leader Jyoti Basu's statement that Ms Nasreen was welcome to return to Kolkata if the Centre could ensure her security, Mr Mukherjee said if the West Bengal Government sought any assistance for providing security to the writer, the Centre would consider it.
''Actually, the security of an individual is the responsibility of the State Government. However, we will only be glad to cooperate,'' he said.
UNI
Talking to newspersons on the sidelines of the 80th annual conference of the 'Nikhil Bharat Banga Sahithya Sammelan', he said the Bangladeshi writer was being given adequate security in Delhi as it was the Centre's responsibility. Responding to veteran CPI(M) leader Jyoti Basu's statement that Ms Nasreen was welcome to return to Kolkata if the Centre could ensure her security, Mr Mukherjee said if the West Bengal Government sought any assistance for providing security to the writer, the Centre would consider it.
''Actually, the security of an individual is the responsibility of the State Government. However, we will only be glad to cooperate,'' he said.
UNI
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