Kolkata's Shame

Despite 'poribarton', little change from the Left

Kolkata's Shame

-The Times of India, February 3, 2012

The recent cancelling of the launch of Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen's latest book, Nirbashan (Exile), at the Kolkata Book Fair is "yet another example of tacit political endorsement of fundamentalists militating against freedom of expression."

The West Bengal government adopted the same spineless posture that was characteristic of the Rajasthan government.

Can our "cherished democratic values" be repeatedly held hostage by some fundamentalists?  

Not playing at a theatre near you

"First Rushdie, then the cancellation of a seminar and film screening on Kashmir at a Pune college, now Taslima Nasreen. It seems there is no end to India's capacity for easy surrender when it comes to the freedom of expression."

All this is clearly unheeding of several Supreme Court verdicts, that public authorities must protect the freedom of expression, and cannot resort to bans in the name of upholding law and order. The Hindu : Opinion / Editorial : Not playing at a theatre near you

Such pusillanimity has come to the fore during elections in important States where political parties are seeking votes on communal platforms — despite all the evidence that minority voters do not want to be treated in this way — is a sad reflection on the condition of the world's largest democracy and its leaders.

Take A Stand

A true secular state must ensure freedom of expression


Take A Stand

-The Times of India, January 19, 2012

India is "constitutionally bound to be secular; needs to uphold both" - the freedom of expression and the freedom of religion, urges the editor.

"It is time political parties came out strongly in defence of secularism and freedom of expression. Without these handmaidens, democracy itself is stillborn."