Taslima is no mean prisoner: Krishna Iyer .

February 5, 2008

From " THE Hindu " NEWS PAPER DATED 6TH FEBRUARY 2008.

Taslima is no mean prisoner: Krishna Iyer

The former judge of the Supreme Court, V.R. Krishna Iyer, in a letter to Prime

Minister Manmohan Singh, writes:

“I was pained to read about Madam Taslima Nasrin suffering de facto solitary

confinement and remaining in incommunicado in the proud Indian Republic which

promises to every citizen free speech, freedom of association, free movement

and, above all, the right to life with dignity and security. You are the

statesman Prime Minister under this great Constitution.

“Taslima is no mean prisoner but a fine person with independent judgement of a

high order, even if her views may be opposed by fanatics who furiously resist

free thought with obdurate obscurantism and fossil feudalism. I was moved to

tears when I heard from Sri. Sumit Chakravarty about her lurid lot for no

culpable fault or violent deviance on her part.

“This country of Gandhian greatness and Nehruvian liberalism has merely been

violative of humanism and compassion which are fundamental duties under the

Constitution. To direct her to quit the country for no wrong committed is a slur

and blasphemy because it is an infliction of indignity contrary to the

hospitable traditions and gracious values which are part of the culture of

Bharat Mahan.

“I feel confident that you, as a noble leader, will not be browbeaten by the

overbearing bigotry of a neighbouring country’s hostile minority. It is my

conviction that the friendly relations India maintains with the rest of the

world, on the basis of ‘Panchasheel’ and comity of nations, will be shaken if,

for ulterior reasons, timid, and traumatic, State Power is used against a

helpless woman happy in our comity.

“The people of India generally will be warmly behind you if you allow this lady

of integrity and amity to remain provided she does not create by her conduct a

law and order problem. I plead with you to defend India’s high cultural stature

without fear or favour, affection or ill-will. One wrong step may tarnish our

glory even as one firm stand may win for us the world’s goodwill.”

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