J&K government bans 25 books citing threat to security; AG Noorani, Arundhati Roy among authors
Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday issued an order banning 25 books authored by prominent Indian and international scholars, writers, and activists, citing concerns over national security, secessionism, and youth radicalization in the region.
A notification (S.O.203) issued by the Home Department invoked Section 98 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, and Sections 152, 196, and 197 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, to declare the books as forfeited to the government, ordering their seizure from public and private circulation across the Union Territory.
The notification claims that intelligence inputs and investigations revealed that the books in question contributed to the "systematic dissemination of false narratives," glorified terrorism, vilified security forces, and incited youth toward secessionist violence.
Among the banned authors are Islamic scholar Syed Abul A’la Maududi, legal and constitutional expert A.G. Noorani, celebrated author and activist Arundhati Roy, historians Ayesha Jalal and Sugata Bose, political scientist Sumantra Bose, and Kashmiri academics Hafsa Kanjwal, Ather Zia, and Essar Batool.
“This literature would deeply impact the psyche of youth by promoting a culture of grievance, victimhood, and terrorist heroism,” the notification stated, further alleging that such publications distorted historical facts, promoted alienation, and acted as a "pathway to violence and terrorism."
The government contended that the banned material not only glorifies terrorism and militancy but also undermines India’s sovereignty and unity, making their circulation a cognizable offense under newly enforced criminal laws.
The complete list of banned books includes:
Human Rights Violations in Kashmir – Piotr Balcerowicz & Agnieszka Kuszewska
Kashmir’s Fight for Freedom – Mohd Yosuf Saraf
Colonizing Kashmir – Hafsa Kanjwal
Kashmir Politics and Plebiscite – Dr. Abdul Jabbar Gockhami
Do You Remember Kunan Poshpora? – Essar Batool et al.
Mujahid ki Azaan – Imam Hasan Al-Bana Shaheed (ed. Maulana Enayatullah Subhani)
Al Jihadul fil Islam – Syed Abul A’la Maududi
Independent Kashmir – Christopher Snedden
Resisting Occupation in Kashmir – Haley Duschinski, Mona Bhan, Ather Zia, Cynthia Mahmood
Between Democracy and Nation – Seema Kazi
Contested Lands – Sumantra Bose
In Search of a Future – David Devadas
Kashmir in Conflict – Victoria Schofield
The Kashmir Dispute 1947–2012 – A.G. Noorani
Kashmir at the Crossroads – Sumantra Bose
A Dismantled State – Anuradha Bhasin
Resisting Disappearance – Ather Zia
Confronting Terrorism (ed.) – Maroof Raza (incl. Stephen P. Cohen)
Freedom in Captivity – Radhika Gupta
Kashmir: The Case for Freedom – Tariq Ali, Hilal Bhatt, Angana P. Chatterji, Pankaj Mishra, Arundhati Roy
Azadi – Arundhati Roy
USA and Kashmir – Dr. Shamshad Shan
Law and Conflict Resolution in Kashmir – Balcerowicz & Kuszewska
Tarikh-i-Siyasat Kashmir – Dr. Afaq
Kashmir and the Future of South Asia – Sugata Bose & Ayesha Jalal
This move has already drawn criticism from civil liberties advocates, who fear a chilling effect on academic freedom and dissent. The government, however, maintains that the ban is a necessary measure to safeguard the peace and sovereignty of the Union Territory.
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Cong leader Prithviraj Chavan defiant after facing verbal missiles on Op Sindoor remarks
Mumbai (PTI): Despite facing criticism, senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan on Wednesday stood by his controversial comments that India faced a "total defeat" in aerial fight with Pakistan on the first day of Operation Sindoor on May 7.
The former Union minister refused to apologise for his comments on the Indian military operation against terror hubs in Pakistan and PoK in aftermath of massacre of tourists at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir in April.
Talking to reporters in Pune on Tuesday, Chavan claimed India faced a "total defeat in the aerial fight (with Pakistan) on May 7 which lasted for half-an-hour".
"One may believe this or not. After that the Indian Air Force got grounded and not a single aircraft took flight that day.... be it Gwalior, Bhatinda or Sirsa, there was a possibility of aircraft being shot down, so our complete Air Force was grounded," the former Maharashtra chief minister had said.
Hitting out at Chavan, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde accused the Congress of speaking the language of Pakistan. He said questioning the military action was akin to demoralising the morale of armed forces.
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"The criticism does not stem from the love of the nation, but love for Pakistan," said the chief leader of the Shiv Sena, a key constituent of the BJP-led NDA.
Chavan, however, remained defiant.
"There is no question of apologising. The Constitution has given me the right to ask questions," the Congress veteran asserted.
Chavan also questioned the need of having a 12-lakh strong Army when future wars will be about aerial combats and missiles. "During Operation Sindoor we saw that there was no movement of the Army even for a kilometre," he had said.
BJP Lok Sabha MP and spokesperson Sambit Patra said Chavan's remarks are loaded with sedition.
"He (Chavan) has refused to apologise. The Indian armed forces struck 100 kms inside the Pakistan territory and destroyed 11 air strips (of the Pakistani Air Force). He made remarks that the Indian Army did not even move an inch (during the military operation). This is nothing but a statement full of sedition, a statement of a traitor," Patra said, lashing out at the Congress leader.
The BJP spokesperson maintained the Congress appears to be standing with Chavan and alleged the Opposition party is playing into foreign hands.
Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra should apologise for it, he added.
Union minister Giriraj Singh of the BJP insisted it was not right to devalue the valour of Indian armed forces.
Samajwadi Party MP Virendra Singh suggested that wherever armed forces are concerned, every Indian should be mindful of statements they make and ensure their comments do not demoralise the military.
Operation Sindoor was a result of "mistakes of politicians", he claimed.
TDP MP Krishna Devraylu said after the poll defeat in Bihar, the Congress is rattled and their leaders have been talking absurdly.
"Chavan's remarks are a prime example of this. This kind of disrespect to our armed forces is not necessary. If the Congress is angry with the NDA, it should show it in a different way and not drag armed forces into it," Devraylu opined.
AAP MP Ashok Mittal said such statements should not be made by any senior politician, especially by someone who has been a former chief minister.
The Indian armed forces registered a strong victory and destroyed terror launchpads in Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, Mittal added.
