Taslima's book launch runs into trouble

The ongoing Kolkata Book Fair witnessed a controversy on Wednesday as the scheduled book launch of exiled Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen was cancelled by the organizers over protests by a religious group.

Protesters reportedly called police and objected the release of the book and even planned to demonstrate against the launch at the fair, media reports said.

The organizers of the fair, the Booksellers and Publishers Guild, had planned to launch the book titled ´Nirbashan´ (meaning exile) at the AC hall.

However, they decided to cancel the event.

Taslima tweeted: "Kolkata Book Fair committee canceled my book release program today at Kolkata Book Fair. Why?Some religious fanatics don´t want it to happen."

"Kolkata,a city of progressive!A book release even w/o my presence not possible!All poltcial parties,all orgs afraid of fanatics!But how long," she remarked.

However, the book was later released by the publishers at their own stall in the fair, media reports said.

"The PBS publisher with friends have released my book under the open sky at Kolkata Book Fair. Book release in the AC hall was banned," Taslima confirmed by tweeting to his followers.

´Nirbashan´ was launched by author Nabarun Bhattacharya. It is the seventh volume of Taslima´s autobiographical account.

Taslima left Bangladesh in 1994 after receiving several death threats from Muslims. She had agitated the Muslims of Bangladesh by writing against Islamic philosophy in her controversial novel 'Lajja' in 1993.

Earlier this month, London-based writer Salman Rushdie was not allowed to visit the recently concluded Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF).

The organizers of the event had to cancel the much-talked about appearance of controversial writer at the JLF via video conferencing over protests by some Muslim group on Jan 24.