Tasleema Nasreen's book launch at Kolkata Book Fair cancelled

Bangladeshi author Tasleema Nasreen's book launch at the Kolkata Book Fair has been cancelled following objections from some religious extremist groups.

Sources at the book exhibition said religious fanatics had reportedly gone to the Lalbazar police headquarters with a memorandum that demanded that the launch of the book be prevented.

On the other hand, book fair organisers claimed that the hall where the book was supposed to be launched could not be made ready in time as Kolkata Literature Festival was going on.

Taslima Nasreen tweeted saying that all political parties were afraid of religious fanatics.

She also described the city of Kolkata as a progressive one, and added that being afraid of fanatics was understandable, but for how long would the law enforcement authorities turn the other way.