'The issue isn't Taslima, the issue is freedom'

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Sagarika Ghose: There are certainly many authors and artists who seek publicity for publcity's sake. Taslima could well be one of those. But the fact is that it’s not her we should worry about it, it’s the freedom she represents that is of crucial importance. As Nehru said, freedom is indivisible. If we keep quiet on Taslima now, tomorrow someone will pass all sorts of laws curtailing our rights and we will not have the means to protest.

Aniruddh Mazumdar: Taslima Nasreen loves and survives on controversies. Controversies have been her bread and butter. She will have a much wider audience now for her anti-Islamic writings. Kolkata’s ‘intellectuals’ have always pampered her as a flag bearer of women's lib and she must be delighted with all this attention. But does Taslima warrant that much of news space? Are we not wasting our time on someone who loves to play to the gallery?

Sagarika Ghose: Whether she's a good writer or not, whether she seeks publicity or not, a writer's freedom is the duty of democratic India. Our tradition has always nurtured the subversives, the rebels and those who questioned society. We are a nation of iconoclasts. Taslima the individual is not that important, but what she represents IS of great importance.

Vijay: Be it about Ram or Rahim, writers in India are crossing the limit. I feel there should be limits because if provocation is permitted then the country will not remain safe for long.

Sagarika Ghose: You sound like a Nazi!

Ravi: Leave Taslima alone, and things will settle down. As long as the politicians and media keep getting mileage out of this issue, forget any solution!

Sagarika Ghose: We are not seeking “mileage” from the issue. We are concerned about the issue of artistic freedom. Anyone who loves and respects our long tradition of art and rebellious writing would hate to see any kind of freedom being curtailed. Anybody who is truly religious would know that God will not be damaged by any book or painting.

Karthik: You are misusing your channel to show your personal opinions influenced by your Leftist leanings. You can’t digest your food without bashing Modi and praising Communists (aka pseudo secularists). Why don’t you rename your channel as CPM-IBN?

Sagarika Ghose: Don’t think any other channel has been as vocal in critcising the Left as we have been. You should read our blogs and watch our programmes before abusing us.

PARTY TIME FOR POLITCIANS

Santosh Reddy: Don’t you think that the BJP is trying to make controversy of everything the government does?

Sagarika Ghose: The BJP is asking for political refugee status for Taslima only because her writings suit their political purpose. If it were any other writer, the BJP would not be bothered. A number of Muslims have spoken out on the need for her to stay in India: there are many liberal and moderate Muslims who oppose the fundamentalist forces within their own community very strongly.