Ganguly should step down: Taslima Nasreen

Exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen Wednesday demanded the resignation of former Supreme Court judge A.K. Ganguly as the chief of the West Bengal Human Rights Commission over allegations of sexual assault.

Even as the nationwide chorus for his resignation continues to grow, a defiant Ganguly has refused to demit office.

Nasreen said the allegations against Ganguly and Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal show that even men from educated and elite backgrounds may commit such offences.

"I think he should step down because it's the Human Rights Commission. After the allegations that have been made against him, it's not in favour of the commission if he stays in the post," Nasreen told reporters here via a video conference from Delhi.

The author was talking about the launch of Bengali TV serial "Dusahobas" based on a story penned by her.

Nasreen said Ganguly should resign until the final verdict is delivered.

"I don't know what will happen in the end. Maybe he will be proven not guilty. But until his name is cleared, he should resign."

Asked about Tejpal, Nasreen said his actions were "wrong".

According to her, with such allegations coming to light, it is clear that people who are in top positions do not necessarily respect women.

"What he (Tejpal) has done is wrong. He has resigned and I hope he gets due punishment. People say that those who belong to the lower strata of society and villages are responsible for these incidents, but with these allegations we are seeing that those who are intellectuals and write on women's issues and those who protest against rapes can also molest and rape," Nasreen said.

"Even educated and elite men can also commit such crimes. We saw that people who are in high positions can also commit such offences. It's not that they do not think of women as sexual commodities or that they respect women."

Nasreen also highlighted that due to the growing awareness among women after the Delhi gang rape, such incidents in high places are coming to prominence.