Reading the message board made me wonder, why do we always give so much importance to what fundamentalists think? Deepa Mehta was opposed by RSS and does not represent the views of majority moderate Hindus. The government did provide her with security but she choose to move to Sri Lanka because of the threats from Bajrang Dal and Co. Do people opposing Taslima belong to any RSS or Bajrang Dal type muslim organization. I would like to know the views of moderate muslims on this. Personally I don't want India to start giving shelter to such controversial person (whether right or wrong), the west is there for this purpose. We have lot of our own problems to think about. Also I don't want people of Bangladesh, even the fundamentalists there, to think of India as a shelter of there enemies. How does it help us, we should be pragmatic like china and avoid unnecessary controversy because of our moral and ethical leanings. A good and friendly image of India in the eyes of Bangladeshi people including fundamentalists is what is needed. We shouldn't let her become an irritant in our relations. We should always remember the she is no one to us...let us take care of our own house.
RE:Another view point
by on Jan 28, 2007 10:22 PM Permalink
Her citizenship should be based on merits and not whether it offends Bangladesh which is training our insurgents, pushing Hindus on to us and creating all sorts of troubles on the borders. We should behave like west, a superpower in the making. It is our meek attitude that has always made our country a target of mischief mongers. If we hold the right of free speech as paramount, we should have no qualms about giving Taslima citizenship in this country as she is under threat in Bangladesh. Opinion of moderate muslims in this country is either absent or muted.
RE:RE:Another view point
by Kalyan L on Jan 29, 2007 11:05 AM Permalink
I totally agree with you. We should behave like west, a superpower in the making. It is our meek attitude that has always made our country a target of mischief mongers. Moreover, we should not be talking about Hindu-Muslim thing. She is facing the wrath of fundamentalists who is seeking her blood, her only fault being expressing her views! It is our responsibilty as a democratic country to encourage the freedom of expression, either within or outside the country. Dont bring religion into everything, we dont need to endorse her views, but we can sure respect her freedom of expression as we are human beings. The prime failure of India in Indian subcontinent is that it never showed responsibility towards the smaller neighbouring countries. Sometimes, it might need to be aggressive, but it cant shy away from larger interests of the people living in those countries. Unfortunately, we leave an impression that India bullies the smaller countries in the region. Its not always diplomatic relations that matter, especially when the ppl dont like the rule they have. It is the larger interests of the people within and India has to take up responsibility for them and stand tall!
RE:RE:Another view point
by Kalyan L on Jan 29, 2007 11:06 AM Permalink
I totally agree with you. We should behave like west, a superpower in the making. It is our meek attitude that has always made our country a target of mischief mongers. Moreover, we should not be talking about Hindu-Muslim thing. She is facing the wrath of fundamentalists who is seeking her blood, her only fault being expressing her views! It is our responsibilty as a democratic country to encourage the freedom of expression, either within or outside the country. Dont bring religion into everything, we dont need to endorse her views, but we can sure respect her freedom of expression as we are human beings. The prime failure of India in Indian subcontinent is that it never showed responsibility towards the smaller neighbouring countries. Sometimes, it might need to be aggressive, but it cant shy away from larger interests of the people living in those countries. Unfortunately, we leave an impression that India bullies the smaller countries in the region. Its not always diplomatic relations that matter, especially when the ppl dont like the rule they have. It is the larger interests of the people within and India has to take up responsibility for them and stand tall!
RE:RE:Another view point
by Purushottam Kumar on Jan 28, 2007 11:34 PM Permalink
I don't know what other merit she has and how it will help India. Why are we so overenthusiastic to uphold the right of free speech of a Bangladeshi Citizen. We should be more than happy that Arundhati Roy and Co. enjoy free speech here. I agree we should have a tougher attitude towards mischief mongers but it is different from having a sympathetic attitude towards Taslima. I don't know how the citizenship issue will make our policies look tougher. We are not a superpower and shouldn't behave like one. If we want to become a great nation and play a meaningful role internationally, we should refrain from creating trouble in our neighborhood, it will only tie us down in the subcontinent. The west creates trouble in distant lands and not in its own backyard which has the potential of spilling over.
RE:RE:RE:Another view point
by pnrazdan on Jan 29, 2007 10:38 AM Permalink
Mr Kumar, her merit is that she is a liberal writer, the spirit we hold as a leading democracy of the world, she is from a neighbouring country and has a right to ask for refuge and she has been living in this country for the last one year.In a world which is threatened with jehadi interpretation of Islam, we need moderate muslims in all countries who have the courage to condemn what is patently wrong. Let Arundhati Roys say what they want to. It applies equally to them. Indian public has the segacity and wisdom to accept or rebuff these elements. We are a superpower in the making. We are not creating trouble on our borders but others are doing it to thwart our economic growth and a multi religious character. Superpowers donot tolerate these things at their borders. Remember to what extent USA went when it was threatened in Cuba. We need to change our weak and timid attitude. Non violence was ok at some stage but it cannot work when nuclear nations exist in our neighbourhood.
