J&K bans circulation of 25 ‘secessionist’, ‘radical’ books | India News

SRINAGAR: Booker winner Arundhati Roy’s Azadi is among 25 books banned from circulation in J&K by the home department, citing “systematic dissemination of false narratives and secessionist literature” endangering India’s sovereignty and integrity.The order declaring these books as “forfeited” – implying all copies owned by individuals and organisations in Kashmir cease to be their property – was issued Tuesday under Section 98 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. The provision empowers the administration to declare certain publications “forfeited” and issue search warrants for those.The home department reports to lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha.The list of books that can’t be owned, sold and circulated within J&K includes Kashmir:The Case for Freedom by Tariq Ali, Pankaj Mishra and others, Christopher Snedden’s Independent Kashmir, and Imam Hassan al-Banna’s Mujajid Ki Azan. Banna was the Egyptian founder of Muslim Brotherhood.“Available evidence based on investigations and credible intelligence unflinchingly indicate that a significant driver behind youth participation in violence and terrorism has been persistent internal circulation of narratives, often disguised as historical or political commentary, while playing a critical role in misguiding the youth, glorifying terrorism and inciting violence against the Indian State,” the notification states.According to the home department, dissemination of such literature could “deeply impact the psyche of youth” by promoting “a culture of grievance, victimhood and terrorist heroism”.“Some of the means by which this literature has contributed to the radicalisation of youth in J&K include distortion of historical facts, glorification of terrorists, vilification of security forces, religious radicalisation, promotion of alienation, and pathways to violence and terrorism,” it says.Copies of the notification, signed by the principal secretary to the govt, have been sent to the DGP and all additional chief secretaries.