Left washes hands off Taslima issue

Yechury faced a barrage of questions from reporters on the Taslima affair, but his repeated refrain was that it was the 8216;sole prerogative8217; of the Centre to decide where she should stay and 8216;wherever she goes it was incumbent upon the state government there to provide security8217;.

8220;Whether she should remain in India or not and whether her visa should be extended or not is a decision to be taken by the Central government. It is beyond the scope of any state government. Let the Central Government decide on this,8221; he said.

Asked about reports that West Bengal government asked her to move out of the state, he said, 8216;nobody forced her8217; and added that 8216;she can move anywhere she wants if the Central government permits8217;.

He denied reports that the Left Front government was not keen for the return of Nasreen.

8220;Do not try to bring the West Bengal government or the CPM into the issue. She has stayed in Kolkata for the last three years and protection was given by the state government,8221; he said.