On Monday (22nd December), Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasrin took to her Facebook account to inform that Mamata Banerjee has banned her play ‘Lajja (shame)’ from being performed in West Bengal.
She stated that the play was to be staged in Gobordanga and Pandua and had accordingly been advertised for the past 2 months.
Taslima Nasrin added that the West Bengal police suddenly directed the organisers of the theatre festivals not to showcase her play.
She informed that the action was being taken at the behest of Mamata Banerjee, citing concerns of law and order.
“The police claim that staging Lajja will provoke Muslims to riot. Using the same excuse of potential Muslim riots, the state government had previously stopped the airing of my mega serial Dusshahobas, which dealt with strained relationships, on Akash 8 TV channel,” Taslima Nasrin informed.
“Why is art and literature censored instead of taking action against those who want to incite riots? Why are the voices of artists and writers suppressed? How much longer will I alone continue to ask this question? Does no one else feel responsible for standing up against injustice?” she further added.
