No French honour for Taslima in India, says Delhi

FRENCH HONOUR: France named Taslima as the winner of this year's Simone de Beauvoir Award earlier this month.

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New Delhi: The UPA Government has politely refused a French proposal to confer the prestigious Simone de Beauvoir Award on Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen during President Nicolas Sarkozy's visit to India.

Sarkozy is scheduled to arrive in India on Thursday.

According to sources, the Union Government has cited 'security reasons' for not allowing a formal ceremony to be held in India for the purpose.

President Sarkozy was believed to be keen to honour the Bangladeshi writer during his India visit.

But the Government of India has told the French authorities that such a move might lead to widespread protests, creating a new security problem for the government. Taslima is currently confined to an undisclosed safe house somewhere in New Delhi.

On January 9, the French Government had announced Nasreen as this year's recipient of the coveted award, which is conferred on notable women writers. The award is named after the famous feminist writer, author of the celebrated treatise, The Second Sex.

Taslima herself had expressed her desire to receive the award from the French President during his forthcoming visit to India. But the Centre has put its foot down, apprehending a Muslim backlash.