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Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
J&K: Omar government slams LG over book ban
SRINAGAR: J&K's governing National Conference (NC) on Friday decried banning books as 'unfortunate and deeply ill-conceived', days after LG Manoj Sinha-led home department banned 25 titles, including some by Booker-prize winning author Arundhati Roy and constitutionalist AG Noorani. The NC statement came with a reassurance that it was trying to see how the ban could be revoked under the Union Territory's (UT) system of governance where the LG oversees such matters. Global rights organisation Amnesty also questioned the move. The home department has described the action as part of an ongoing crackdown on publications allegedly promoting secessionist ideologies, glorifying terrorism, or disseminating distorted historical narratives. Chief minister Omar Abdullah responded to accusations that he had ordered the ban. 'Get your facts right before you call me a coward, you ignoramus. The ban has been imposed by the LG using the only department he officially controls - the Home Department. I've never banned books & I never would,' Omar posted on X, responding to the allegations. Following Tuesday's order under section 98 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023, police had on Thursday seized allegedly 'subversive' books from stores and literary venues, including Chinar book festival on the banks of Dal Lake. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like North Bersted: Boots is giving free 75-minute hearing checks. Boots Hearingcare Book Now Undo NC spokesman Tanvir Sadiq asked 'why we are so afraid of differing opinions'. 'History shows that banning books only fuels curiosity, people want to know why something is banned, and readership often increases as a result. Silencing or intimidating opinions never worked and it won't work now,' Sadiq said. Amnesty India stressed that of the 25 banned books, including Roy's Azadi, many were written by respected journalists, historians, feminists, and peace scholars, and these weren't 'terror manuals' but 'critical voices'. 'Censoring books on the basis of an executive notification without due process and judicial oversight doesn't bring peace; it silences dissent. When govts fear ideas, it tells you more about the state than the speech,' Amnesty said in a statement. Thursday's seizures included copies of A Dismantled State: The Untold Story of Kashmir After Article 370 by Anuradha Bhasin, The Kashmir Dispute, 1947–2012 by Noorani, and Kashmir at the Crossroads by Sumantra Bose.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Will only fuel division': Kashmir police raid bookstores, seize banned titles; crackdown targets ‘subversive' literature
A view of a book store in Srinagar. (AP Photo) SRINAGAR: Police launched Thursday coordinated raids across Kashmir valley, seizing allegedly subversive books from bookstores and literary venues, including Chinar book festival underway at SKICC on the banks of Dal Lake. The crackdown followed J&K administration banning 25 titles under section 98 of BNSS. Police confiscated five copies of 'A Dismantled State: The Untold Story of Kashmir After Article 370' by Anuradha Bhasin, two copies of 'The Kashmir Dispute, 1947–2012' by AG Noorani, and one copy of 'Kashmir at the Crossroads' by Sumantra Bose from bookstores in Srinagar. On Tuesday, the home department's order declared all copies of the listed books — whether held by people or organisations — liable to forfeiture, citing threats to national unity and sovereignty. The department reports to lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha. Press statements from district police headquarters described the action as part of an ongoing crackdown on publications allegedly promoting secessionist ideologies, glorifying terrorism, or disseminating distorted historical narratives. 'The objective of the operation was to identify, seize, and forfeit literature that propagates false narratives or poses a threat to the unity of India,' Srinagar police said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like She Was The Dream Girl In The 1980s, Here She Is Now. Boite A Scoop Undo Police in Anantnag said inspections were carried out across all police station jurisdictions. The enforcement aimed to curb material 'that glorifies terrorism, vilifies security forces, or contributes to youth radicalisation,' a district statement read. Authorities urged people to report possession or circulation of banned content. The move drew sharp criticism from political and religious voices across the region. Ex-CM and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said: 'Democracy thrives on the free exchange of ideas. Banning books cannot erase history, it only fuels division.' Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and s ilver prices in your area.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Crackdown on ‘seditious' literature in J&K: Police seize banned books
SRINAGAR: Police launched Thursday coordinated raids across Kashmir valley, seizing allegedly subversive books from bookstores and literary venues, including Chinar book festival underway at SKICC on the banks of Dal Lake. The crackdown followed J&K administration banning 25 titles under section 98 of BNSS. Police confiscated five copies of 'A Dismantled State: The Untold Story of Kashmir After Article 370' by Anuradha Bhasin, two copies of 'The Kashmir Dispute, 1947–2012' by AG Noorani, and one copy of 'Kashmir at the Crossroads' by Sumantra Bose from bookstores in Srinagar. On Tuesday, the home department's order declared all copies of the listed books — whether held by people or organisations — liable to forfeiture, citing threats to national unity and sovereignty. The department reports to lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha. Press statements from district police headquarters described the action as part of an ongoing crackdown on publications allegedly promoting secessionist ideologies, glorifying terrorism, or disseminating distorted historical narratives. 'The objective of the operation was to identify, seize, and forfeit literature that propagates false narratives or poses a threat to the unity of India,' Srinagar police said. Police in Anantnag said inspections were carried out across all police station jurisdictions. The enforcement aimed to curb material 'that glorifies terrorism, vilifies security forces, or contributes to youth radicalisation,' a district statement read. Authorities urged people to report possession or circulation of banned content. The move drew sharp criticism from political and religious voices across the region. CPM opposed the ban and demanded its immediate revocation. Former CM and opposition PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said: 'Democracy thrives on the free exchange of ideas. Banning books cannot erase history, it only fuels division.' Kashmir's chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq called the ban an 'exposure of insecurity and limited understanding' by those behind it. 'The contradiction lies in hosting a literary festival while silencing dissenting literature,' he said.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Police search bookshops in Kashmir; authors, parties aghast over L-G's move declaring 25 books as ‘forfeited'
The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday (August 7, 2025) launched wide searches of bookshops across the Kashmir Valley to seize 25 books declared as 'forfeited' by the Lieutenant-Governor's administration, even as the move evoked sharp reactions from several authors and political parties. The police scanned the ongoing Chinar Book Festival 2025 at Srinagar's Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC). 'We were asked if we possess A.G. Noorani's book The Kashmir Dispute, 1947-2012. We have no books available that were listed as forfeited,' a salesman said on the condition of anonymity. Stalls of several publishers like Milli Publications were searched for any book authored by Islamic scholar Moulana Moudadi. 'We were forewarned about bringing books authored by Moudadi to the book fair in Srinagar this year,' a Delhi-based publisher said. The J&K Home department, which comes under the Lieutenant-Governor, invoked Section 98 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023 on Wednesday (August 6, 2025) to categorise 25 books as 'forfeited'. Police officials said raids were conducted on bookshops in Srinagar, Anantnag, Ganderbal and Handwara districts 'for search and forfeiture of the banned books'. 'The objective of the operation was to identify, seize, and forfeit any literature that propagates or systematically disseminates false narratives, promotes secessionist ideologies, or otherwise poses a threat to the sovereignty and unity of India,' the police said. There is growing opposition to the L-G administration's move to list books of prominent writers, including Christopher Snedden, A.G. Noorani, Sumantra Bose, Ayesha Jalal, Sugata Bose; Arundhati Roy, Stephen P. Cohen, Anuradha Bhasin and Seema Qazi, as 'forfeited for propagating false narrative and secessionism' in J&K. Author Anuradha Bhasin said the books listed by the Home department were 'well-researched and not one glorifies terrorism'. 'I challenge them to prove a single word that glorifies terrorism. For those who value truth, read it and judge for yourself,' Ms. Bhasin, whose book A Dismantled State: The Untold Story of Kashmir after Article 370 was listed as 'forfeited'. Former Union Home Secretary Gopal Pillai and former Kashmir interlocutor Radha Kumar, who co-chair the Forum of Human Rights in J&K, said, 'The Forum strongly protests the L-G's notification. It's another example of the suppression of dissent through censorship, a practice which is becoming widespread across India and has been at its worst in Jammu and Kashmir since August 2019.' The Forum warned that 'in days to come, even possession of the forfeited books will be criminalised'. 'Police raids and claims of possession of incriminating literature are already misused to impose charges under the draconian UAPA and PSA. This notification institutionalises that malpractice and must be withdrawn,' the Forum said. Former J&K Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti said censorship doesn't silence ideas, it amplifies their resonance. 'Democracy thrives on the free exchange of ideas. Banning books cannot erase history, it only fuels division. In Kashmir, suppressing democratic voices and fundamental freedoms deepens alienation and mistrust,' Ms. Mufti said. Imran Nabi Dar, spokesperson of the ruling National Conference, said if these books actually incited violence or glorified terrorism, then the administration is right in banning them. 'However, if the government is trying to create a narrative, then that is an issue. These books include respected authors like A.G. Noorani, whose work is considered a benchmark of well-researched scholarship.' Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said banning books by scholars and reputed historians 'will not erase historical facts and the repertoire of lived memories of the 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 literary commitment,' the Mirwaiz said. CPI(M) leader M.Y. Tarigami deplored the ban on 25 books. 'A blatant act of censorship and an attack on free speech. I call for immediate revocation and protection of freedom of expression,' Mr. Tarigami said.
