CANACONA, GOA, November 5, 2016: Living in exile since 1994, noted Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen today said that she will now call India her home and it is unfortunate that she has no alternative but to live in exile for rest of her life.

"I have been living in exile since 1994. I know I have no other alternative but to live in exile for rest of my life. I feel I have nowhere to go or country to return to. I say now India is my country, India is my home," the 54-year-old writer told the gathering at the "India Ideas Conclave 2016", currently underway in Goa, mentioned PTI.

The event is organised by India Foundation.

"How much more we have to suffer at the hands of fundamentalists and their political allies for daring to articulate the truth. Even after all that has happened, I still believe, that sincere honest truly secular part of the continent, India is the safe refuge, only refuge," said the writer to PTI.

By questioning inhumanity, inequality, unscientific and irrational aspects of the religion, like other religion, Islam too can achieve enlightenment, said Taslima by referring to the fundamentalists.

"The narrow-minded and the political (people) will forever throw society into the darkness, quiet a handful others will always strive for the betterment of society and good sense will prevail."

It is only a few special people who seek to dream about change, and it has always been like that, said Nasreen, the writer of a much-acclaimed book "Lajja".

While talking about Bangladesh, she said, "I truly hope that the secular movement in my country will begin and turn into positive political movement for true democracy and secular state. The state which will govern on equality and educational system that is secular, scientific."

"People must know that Islam must not be exempted from the critical scrutiny that applies all other religions as well," further added the writer.

– prepared by NewsGram with inputs from PTI.