The Union Government is prepared to assist the West Bengal Government in providing security for Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen provided that the State Government comes forward with a request in this regard, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in Bangalore on Thursday.
Interacting with the reporters on the sidelines of the 80th conference of “Nikhil Bharat Banga Sahitya Sammelan,” organised in the City, Mr Mukherjee said that at present the Union has been providing security for Taslima as she has been staying in Delhi, where the security and the law and order come under the purview of the Centre.
Responding to queries on Taslima’s desire to return to West Bengal, the Minister said: “So far as State governments are concerned, it is the primary responsibility of States to look after the security and the law and order issues. However, the Centre is prepared to offer assistance in providing security for her if the West Bengal Government makes a request to Centre in this regard.”
On the joint military exercise with China, Mr Mukherjee said that such exercises were part of a national security strategy and it exhibits to the world that India and China were working together.
To a query, he said the Union Government would brief the Left parties about the outcome of India's talks with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on India-specific nuclear agreement, before arriving at a final decision.
Skilled labour
Meanwhile, speaking after laying the foundation stone for the second phase of buildings for the South East Asian (SEA) College of Engineering and Technology Mr Mukherjee said, educational institutions offering technical courses in the country have a vital role to play as the demand for skilled manpower has been on the rise with the growth of the industrial sector.
Prof Sunil Jayagoda, Vice-Chancellor of University of Western Australia, who is associated with the SEA Group of Educational Institutions, said the group would soon sign Memoranda of Understanding with foreign universities which enables students to visit different countries as part of their curricular activity.
The South East Asian  Education Trust’s Chairman and former minister A Krishnappa was present on the occasion.