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.'
Hurriyat leader and chief priest of Jamia Masjid in Srinagar, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said that the ban on books won't erase history. 'Banning books by scholars and reputed historians will not erase historical facts and the repertoire of lived memories of people of Kashmir. It only exposes the insecurities and limited understanding of those behind such authoritarian actions, and the contradiction in proudly hosting the ongoing Book Festival to showcase its literary commitment!,' he said on X.
National Conference spokesperson, Imran Nabi Dar, said, 'If there is evidence that these books incite violence or glorify terrorism , the government is justified in banning them. But banning well-researched, critical works like AG Noorani, published by reputable publishers raises concerns,' he said.
The government ordered the forfeiture of the books under section 98 of Bhartiya Nagrika Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
'The identified 25 books have been found to excite secessionism and endangering sovereignty and integrity of India, thereby, attracting the provisions of sections 152, 196 & 197 of BNS 2023... The government of J&K hereby declares publication of the books and their copies or other documents to be forfeited to the government. By order of the LG,' said the notification by Chandraker Bharti, principal secretary to the government.
'This literature would deeply impact the psyche of youth by promoting a culture of grievance, victim hood and terrorist heroism. Some of the means by which this literature has contributed to the radicalization of youth in J&K include distortion of historical facts, glorification of terrorists, vilification of security forces, religious radicalization, promotion of alienation, pathway to violence and terrorism etc,' it said.
The forfeited books also include Between Democracy & Nation: Gender and Militarisation in Kashmir by Seema Kazi, Do you Remember Kunan Poshpora? by Essar Batool and Resisting Disappearance: Military Occupation and Women's Activism in Kashmir by Ather Zia.
The publication of Jamaat-e-Islami founder Moulana Abul A'la Maududi Maududi's Al Jihad fil Islam and Muslim Brotherhood founder Hasan al-Banna's Mujahid ki Azan are also on the list.
J&K police springs into action after the ban, raids book shops
J&K Police on Thursday raided various books shops across the Valley looking for 'prohibited' content.
'In compliance with the recent directive issued by the home department, regarding the forfeiture of literature identified as propagating false narratives and secessionist ideologies, district police Anantnag today conducted a district-wide enforcement drive,' a police spokesperson said in a statement.
Police teams across all police stations conducted checking of various bookshops and establishments dealing in printed publications. 'The drive was undertaken to ensure strict adherence to the government order and to prevent the availability or circulation of any such literature that may promote radicalisation or incite sentiments against the sovereignty and integrity of the nation,' the spokesperson said.
The police sought action from citizens as well. 'Any information regarding the circulation or possession of such banned material may be reported to the nearest Police Station,' he said.
Similarly, Ganderbal Police in central Kashmir also conducted 'coordinated and legally monitored' searches at multiple bookshops across the district.
During the searches, all bookshop owners were sternly warned against stocking or distributing prohibited content.
The Peoples Democratic Party said that it was astonished at the arbitrary and intellectually regressive move by the government to 'forfeit' 25 books it claims promote secessionism. It urged the government to immediately revoke this irrational order and allow space for intellectual freedom and diverse narratives.
'This is not just an assault on literature but a dangerous precedent that undermines the very foundation of democratic discourse. Governments may disagree with a viewpoint, but silencing it through censorship is a sign of weakness, not strength,' the party spokesperson said.
'In a region already suffocated by control, banning books will only fuel alienation. We believe ideas must be debated, not buried. Rebuttal is a democratic tool , censorship is not, ' he said
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
18 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Defence production hits record Rs 1.5 lakh crore, private firms' share up
Synopsis India's defence production has surpassed ₹1.5 lakh crore, marking a significant milestone fueled by increased private sector participation. The defence minister highlighted an 18% growth in FY 2024-25, showcasing the strengthening of India's defence industrial base. Defence exports also saw a surge, reaching ₹23,622 crore, reflecting a 12% increase over the previous year. PTI Indian defence production has crossed the ₹1.5 lakh crore mark, with private companies increasing their share in production and export of military systems, defence minister Rajnath Singh said on Saturday. Lauding the collective effort that led to an all-time high figure of defence production worth ₹1,50,590 crore, Singh said that the milestone is a clear indicator of India's strengthening defence industrial base. Officials said that in the 2024-25 FY, there has been an 18% growth over the previous fiscal's output of ₹1.27 lakh crore, and a 90% increase since FY 2019-20, when the figure was ₹79,071 crore. The numbers have been achieved as the government has gone on overdrive to promote Indian companies to enter the sector and has initiated programs like Emergency Procurement (EPs) that have given orders to a large number of startups and smaller companies as well. Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) and other PSUs accounted for around 77% of total production, while the private sector contributed 23%. The share of the private sector has been steadily rising, from 21% in FY 2023-24 to 23% in FY 2024-25, and is expected to go up exponentially in the coming years as several big projects have been opened up to competitive bidding. Dozens of companies, from backgrounds as diverse as automobile component manufacturing to civil works have entered the defence manufacturing sector as opportunities grow."Both public and private segments of the industry have demonstrated consistent year-on-year growth, attributed to far-reaching policy reforms, enhanced ease of doing business, and a strategic focus on indigenisation over the past decade," officials said. There has been a surge in defence exports as well, with the figure growing to ₹23,622 crore in FY 2024-25, a 12% growth over the previous year.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
SC stays operation of UP govt's Banke Bihari temple ordinance, forms panel led by ex-HC judge
The Supreme Court has stayed the operation of Uttar Pradesh government's Banke Bihari temple trust ordinance, which rests administrative control of the shrine with the state, till the high court decides its validity. The bench, however, clarified that its interim direction will not preclude the state from ratification of the Ordinance in the state assembly.(HT Photo) A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi refused to entertain the challenges made to the Uttar Pradesh Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Temple Trust Ordinance, 2025, and said the affected parties can approach the high court. "At this stage, we are reminded of the fact that the petitioners' challenge to the Ordinance will doubtlessly take some time in proper adjudication. We, therefore, deem it fit to stay operation of the Ordinance's provisions in the interregnum, only to the extent they grant the state powers to constitute a Trust for managing the temple's affairs," the bench directed. The top court said consequently, the constitution of the Shree Bankey Bihar Ji Temple Trust, as defined in Section 3 of the Ordinance and its composition, as contained in Section 5, shall be kept in abeyance till the question of validity of the Ordinance (or any Act in relation thereto subsequently passed by the state legislature), is finally resolved by the high court. The bench, however, clarified that its interim direction will not preclude the state from ratification of the Ordinance in the state assembly, but such an exercise will be subject to the outcome of the proceedings for which the affected persons and the petitioners have been relegated to the high court. The top court in its detailed order uploaded on Saturday also constituted a 12-member high-powered committee headed by retired Allahabad High Court judge Ashok Kumar to look after the day-to-day affairs of the iconic temple. It said, "We are equally mindful that the sum of our directions shall effectively leave the management of the subject temple in limbo yet again, since the ad-hoc arrangement of temple management has been wholly ineffective and inefficient in discharging its duties over the years. "We are pained to observe that the previous administerial deadlock(s) and in-fighting have only worsened the problems plaguing the temple, causing much distress to the pilgrims – who are left without any amenities or redress." The bench said the material on record indicates that despite the substantial donations received by the temple running into hundreds of crores, no tangible steps appear to have been taken by the successive managements for providing essential facilities to the scores of devotees visiting the temple, and the Goswami Shebaits remain divided into factions and continue to litigate before the civil courts, further contributing to administrative inaction. "We are, therefore, satisfied that a high-powered managing committee headed by an impartial person with considerable experience and ability is required to be constituted to run the day-to-day affairs of the temple, apart from undertaking some of the initiatives, which we are illustratively mentioning in the latter part of this order. "There is no gainsaying that the sanctity of safe religious pilgrimage shall never be unjustly denied to all the citizens of this country," the top court said. It also lauded the state government for taking a "fair stand" over the constitution of the committee for the management of the affairs of the temple, and said the panel may deal with a variety of issues for the proper functioning of the temple, including the provision of essential amenities for the devotees. The top court also modified its May 15 order, which gave the go-ahead to the state's scheme to develop the Shri Banke Bihari Temple Corridor at Vrindavan in Mathura, and allowed the government to use temple fund to acquire five acres of land for developing it as a holding area for the devotees. "It seems to us that the order passed by a coordinate bench requires certain modifications/clarifications. That order purportedly directs for the redevelopment of the temple's vicinity through the employment of temple funds. "However, we find that such directions suffer from a foundational procedural infirmity -- the principal affected parties, including the Shebait Goswamis, who have been administering the temple, were not heard prior to the passing of the said order," it said. The bench further said to allow substantive directions on a matter of such significance to be issued in collateral proceedings, especially in absentia of the necessary stakeholders, may not be in conformity with procedural fairness and judicial best-practices. "That apart, we note that the high court, vide its judgment dated November 8, 2023, had expressly declined the state's prayer to utilise temple funds for land acquisition as part of the proposed redevelopment plan. "That judgment has attained finality, having never been assailed by the state in any appropriate appellate proceedings. In these circumstances, this court could not have, in exercise of its civil appellate jurisdiction, effectively set aside the high court's judgment without any formal appeal or challenge being placed before it," the top court said. While directing for modification of the May 15 order, the bench ordered for restoring the legal position to status quo ante.
India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
BIG concern for India as Trump's 50 pc tariffs could lead to 6% GDP slowdown in…; Moody's issues big warning, says India's manufacturing sector could…
Representational Image Trump Tariffs: India's GDP growth will likely slow down to 6 percent in the current financial year if the 50 percent tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump on Indian imports come into effect from August 27, while its budding manufacturing will also take a severe hit, Moody's Ratings said Friday. What did Moody's say? 'Should India continue to procure Russian oil at the expense of the headline 50 per cent tariff rate on goods it ships to the US, which is currently its largest export destination, we project that real GDP growth may slow by around 0.3 percentage points compared with our current forecast of 6.3 per cent growth for fiscal 2025-26 (ending March 2026),' Moody's said. The US-based ratings agency noted that the strain caused by Trump tariffs could be mitigated by India's strong services sector, and resilient domestic demand, however, India's response to high US tariffs will ultimately determine the effect on its growth, inflation and external position. Trump tariffs on India On August 6, Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing an additional 25 percent tariffs on Indian goods, raising the total levy to 50%. The US President called the additional tariffs on India as a 'punishment' for purchasing Russian oil and weapons, as he accused New Delhi of 'funding' Moscow's war on Ukraine. 'I find that the Government of India is currently directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil. Accordingly, and as consistent with applicable law, articles of India imported into the customs territory of the United States shall be subject to an additional ad valorem rate of duty of 25 percent,' the order read. The additional 25 percent tariffs will come into effect from August 27. Why Trump tariffs could dent India's manufacturing sector? Meanwhile, Moody's also warned that the high tariffs will also negatively impact India's growing manufacturing sector, including high-value products like electronics, because of lower tariffs on other Asia-Pacific countries. 'Beyond 2025, the much wider tariff gap compared with other Asia-Pacific countries would severely curtail India's ambitions to develop its manufacturing sector, particularly in higher value-added sectors, such as electronics, and may even reverse some of the gains made in recent years in attracting related investments,' it said. The US has imposed 15-20 percent import duty on other Asia-Pacific countries, while slapping with a 50 percent tariff rate. The ratings agency said Asia-Pacific countries are vying for a greater share of trade and investment flows amid a restructuring of supply chains triggered by US policy shifts. How India could absorb impact of tariffs? Moody's noted that India has managed to 'procure at least some of its purchases of Russian oil at below global prices, which has helped insulate India's inflation from the pass-through of global commodity price movements, while preempting pressures on its current account deficit.' Since 2022, India has increasingly ramped up its crude oil imports from Russia as demand from the latter's traditional offtakers dried up amid sanctions tied to its invasion of Ukraine. In 2024, India's imports of Russian crude rose to USD 56.8 billion from USD 2.8 billion in 2021. Moody's said India retains sufficient foreign-reserve currency buffers to weather external volatility. 'The magnitude of the drag on growth from tariff obstacles will influence the government's decision to pursue a fiscal policy response, although we anticipate the government will adhere to its focus on gradual fiscal and debt consolidation,' said the US-based rating agency. India-US trade deal Notably, India has been negotiating a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) with the United States since March. The two countries have held five rounds of talks, while a US teams is scheduled to visit India on August 25 for the sixth round. However, a trade deal seems unlikely as Donald Trump has categorically said that India-US trade talks will not resume until the dispute over tariffs is resolved. 'No, not until we get it resolved,' Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday when asked whether he expected the talks to resume. (With inputs from agencies)
