Taslima meets Rajnath seeking long-term residence permit

NEW DELHI: Author Taslima Nasrin met Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday seeking long-term extension of her residence permit in India. Singh assured her that he would look into the matter, said a home ministry source. Taslima was taken by surprise with the Centre's curtailed extension of her one-year residence permit. She had applied for renewal of her residence permit in June.On Wednesday, she was issued a multiple entry or X visa valid from July 31 to October 17.
"On getting the curtailed extension, I completely broke down. The spectre of being uprooted once more, losing a refuge loomed large. Since 1994, I have been hounded by fundamentalists and living in exile. I have lost my home, my country. If I lose this refuge in India now, what would I do?" said Taslima.
In desperation, she called the home minister’s office Friday afternoon seeking a meeting with Singh. Speaking to TOI, Taslima said, "The home minister was reassuring. He said the curtailed extension was only a technicality and that I should not worry at all. He said the matter will be resolved in due course."
Taslima, 52, has an EU passport and has been living in India on a residence permit since 2004. Initially, she had to renew it every six months. But since 2011, the UPA government issued her a residence permit renewable every year.
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After the meeting at Singh's residence, Taslima was somewhat relieved. She says she can now focus on the keynote address she is due to deliver at the World Humanists' Conference at Oxford University this week. She will return in the last week of August and apply afresh for the long-term residence permit.

On Saturday, Taslima presented Singh three books written by her: "Lajja" (Shame), the publication of which in 1993, forced to leave her homeland Bangladesh following violent protests and demands by undamentalists to execute her; "Bandini" (The Imprisoned Woman), which depicts her house arrest in Delhi in 2008 after she was hounded out of Kolkata in November 2007; and “Woh Andhere Din”, the fourth volume of her autobiography.
"After I gave him the books, the home minister told me aapke andhere din aur nahin rahenge," said Taslima.
Following reports of curtailed extension of Taslima's X visa, she received overwhelming support on social media and from her well-wishers. Press Council chairman Markandey Katju had said she must be given permanent residency in India.
But, the silence of "intellectuals" from Kolkata, the city she called home, surprised her. In exile, Kolkata had been her refuge since 2004. "I am surprised that people of Kolkata known to speak up for justice remained silent. But, I have got used to this," said Taslima.