Taslima Nasreen accuses Mamata of banning her play

Exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen has accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of banning her play Lajja in the state.

- SUPROTIM MUKHERJEE

The play was scheduled to be staged at theatre festivals in Gobordanga and Pandua, Hooghly. Nasreen has taken to Facebook to claim that despite advertisements for the festivals running for two months, Mamata Banerjee's police suddenly intervened without prior notice, informing organizers that all plays would be allowed except Lajja.

"The play was scheduled to be staged at theatre festivals in Gobordanga and Pandua, Hooghly. Advertisements for the festivals have been running for two months, and now, without any prior notice, Mamata Banerjee's police suddenly informed us that all plays will be staged except Lajja," wrote Nasreen. "The Nabapalli Natya Sanstha has staged this play three times in Delhi, with packed audiences each time."

Nasreen further elaborated that the police had justified the ban by citing concerns over potential riots. "The police claim that staging