Taslima can remain in India despite controversy

Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasrin, who fled death theats in her home country, will be allowed to remain in exile in India as long as she refrains from activities that might offend people, a senior Indian official said Wednesday.

Nasrin has been hiding in New Delhi since last week after a violent protest by a Muslim group forced her to flee her current home in Calcutta. The group, All India Minorities Forum, accuses her of insulting Islam in her writings.

“India will provide shelter to Nasrin,” Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in a statement to Parliament, adding that the country expects “guests will refrain from activities and expressions that may hurt the sentiments of our people.”

New Delhi, Wednesday, AP