india

Updated: Nov 22, 2007 11:28 IST

The ruling CPI(M) in West Bengal on Wednesday said controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen should "leave the state" if her stay disturbs the peace.

"I don't want to speak elaborately on the role played by the Centre on Taslima Nasreen's stay in West Bengal. But if her stay creates a problem for peace, she should leave the state," CPI(M) state secretary Biman Bose told reporters.

He said when two Union ministers sought Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee's view on the issue, he had told them that if the Centre thought it advisable for her stay, she could do so.

Bose's comments came after the city witnessed large-scale violence when a mob attacked the police injuring 35 personnel besides torching and damaging vehicles during a three-hour shutdown called by a minority fringe group in protest against the Nandigram violence. They also demanded cancellation of Nasreen's visa.

Police's plea to Taslima

Earlier, West Bengal police on Wednesday made an offer to controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen to move her out of the state.

Union Home Ministry sources said the police have suggested to Nasreen that she could be moved out to Gujarat but the author is believed to have turned down the offer.