Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen stirred a controversy by touching upon politically sensitive issue of Uniform Civil Code in India and criticising country’s secular fraternity particularly opposition parties for patronising Muslim fanatics.

Nasreen, who made a surprise entry to fest on the last day called for immediate implementation of the UCC. “That UCC is urgently necessary for women’s rights. Some fanatics may not want it for selfish reasons but why you the Indian secular people do not want uniform civil code. Why Muslim women should not have the same democratic right that Hindu women enjoy under modern laws,” she asked.

In a candid discussion with Salit Tripathi, criticising India’s secularists for their selective approach towards fanaticism because, Taslima said, “It was writers and intellectuals in Kolkata, which we call a progressive city asked government to ban my book (Dwikhondito).”