As with Salman Rushdie in Jaipur, a book launch involving controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasrin was cancelled here on Wednesday following pressure from Islamist groups.
However, the publishers later launched the book, Nirbasan (Exile), in an open-air event.
Nasrin, who
isn’t allowed entry into Kolkata, said on phone: “The city of progressives cannot launch my book even in my absence; it seems all political parties are afraid of the fanatics.”
Joint commissioner Javed Shamim told HT: “Muslim groups were unhappy over the event, so it was called off.”