Taslima row: City of Joy author speaks up

8220;India is indeed shining but there is also a part of India which is still in the dark. There are millions who are yet to get access to clean drinking water. Not to forget the lakhs of children who are alienated from education,8221; said Lappierre.

He added, 8220;Everything is booming but the priority should be to make it booming for the have-nots also.8221; The author who has been recognised as the 8216;Citizen of Honour8217; of Kolkata since 1985 also raised concern over the proposed Dow Chemical Company8217;s plant in West Bengal.

He said, 8220;The Dow Company purchased Union Carbide, the same firm which was involved in the Bhopal gas leak tragedy, the consequences of which people are still facing. I am very worried because these chemical plants are very dangerous.8221; Another acclaimed work of Lappierre includes It was Five Past Midnight in Bhopal, a book revolving around the Bhopal gas leak tragedy in 1985 that claimed nearly 5000 lives.

The author is currently in Delhi for the launch of his latest book, Once Upon A Time In The Soviet Union.