The West Bengal government faced further embarrassment on Thursday as Left front Chairman Biman Bose was forced to eat his words on Taslima Nasreen a day after commenting that the Bangladeshi writer should leave if her presence is causing trouble.
Bose today said he was rectifying Wednesday's statement on Taslima on behalf of his party and any decision on extending or cancelling her visa can only be taken by the Centre.
''The right to grant or cancel a visa des not lie with the state government, only the Indian government can do that,'' said Biman Bose.
The author's visa expires in February next year.
Taslima has not spoken since Wednesday's clashes but earlier this year, shortly after she was roughed up by protestors in Hyderabad, she had gone to release the Telugu translation of her book Shodh.
Speaking to NDTV about her reasons for wanting to live in Kolkata, Taslima said: ''I am getting so much support and solidarity from people that I am grateful to them. I want to live here peacefully. I want to write peacefully and I want to feel at home.''
Kolkata meanwhile is slowly getting back to normal a day after violent clashes. Public transport is back on the roads and all schools, colleges and offices have re-opened.
It was a tense night on Wednesday with several parts of the city under curfew. However, no further clashes were reported during the night.
Flag marches by the army are continuing this morning and the Army will hold a review meeting at later today.
On Wednesday a small protest by a little known Muslim group- the All India Minority Forum shot out of control and there were scenes of violence all day.
The group claimed it was protesting against the violence in Nandigram and also demanded the expulsion of Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen from the state.
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