Ban on 25 books triggers backlash in J&K

The government’s home department has issued a notification for “forfeiture” of the 25 books to the government written by some prominent and acclaimed authors, political scientists and historians, including AG Noorani, Arundhati Roy, Sumantra Bose, Sugata Bose, Christopher Snedden and Victoria Schofield for allegedly propagating “false narrative and secessionism” in J&K. Most of these books are written on Kashmir conflict, politics, history and human rights.

The order has attracted surprise and condemnation from many circles.

Prominent journalist and editor of Kashmir Times, Anuradha Bhasin, whose book is on the list, said that the government was “scared of words”. “ I’ve read most of these books & written one. They’re well researched & not one glorifies terrorism which this government claims to have ended. Scared of words challenging your lies!,” Bhasin said.

Another prominent journalist Aarti Tickoo Singh said: “I am aghast at this idiotic order issued by the LG Manoj Sinha/Omar Abdullah/Modi government ...In fact, how can the Indian government ban any book at all? I may disagree with most of the books on their list, but I will never support banning literature... I would rather rebut a view than not read it. It’s moronic to ban books or any literature —especially in the age of the internet and free e-books. It seems the cabal is desperate to set Jammu & Kashmir ablaze, constantly devising new ways to escalate tensions. Pathetic.”