In an article published a few days ago, Sharmila had commented on the incident in which a mob of people had attacked a Muslim family on the night of September 28, 2015, in Bisara village near Dadri, Uttar Pradesh, India. The attackers killed 52-year-old Mohammad Akhlaq Saifi and seriously injured his son, 22-year-old Danish. The open letter questions Tagore's sympathetic approach in the article that was published in Bengali in a Kolkata-based newspaper. Here's a copy of the contents of the open letter as appeared in Dailyo.in...
Dear Mrs Ayesha Sultana,
Having read a recent article of yours, which you have signed as "Sharmila Tagore", may we humbly ask you some questions? We hope we can address you by the name you assumed in adult life though that's not the one you signed the article in question with. Your article is in Bengali and was uploaded on the eve of Durga Puja which is the greatest festival of Bengali Hindus. On such an auspicious occasion, how sensitive was it to name your article "This is Not a Very Happy Time"(E boro anonder somoy noy)? We are aware that your article is about "intolerance" just as you are aware that most readers of your chosen media, viz. Kolkata-based Anandabaazar Patrika, are Bengali Hindus. While trying to guilt-trip Bengali Hindus about "intolerance", when they were about to start their annual festivities, didn't you feel any sense of guilt yourself?
When you declare that "Dadri incident has crossed all limits" (Dadrir ghotona somosto seemarekha otikrom kore giyechhe), do you mean that it crossed all limits of media coverage or monetary compensation?