– Abdul Baari Masoud
New Delhi: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] has strongly condemned the decision of the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor’s administration to ban 25 books, terming the move a blatant act of authoritarianism and an assault on freedom of expression.
In a statement released on Thursday, the CPI(M) Polit Bureau accused the Lieutenant Governor—acting on behalf of the BJP-led Union government—of systematically curtailing the fundamental rights enshrined in the Indian Constitution. The administration justified the ban under the pretext of preventing “secessionism and terrorism.”
The banned books reportedly delve into the history of Kashmir and the roots of its ongoing crisis, with notable works authored by figures such as A.G. Noorani, Anuradha Bhasin, and Arundhati Roy among those prohibited.
The CPI(M) has demanded the immediate lifting of the ban, restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, and the return of full democratic rights to its people. It also urged that an elected government be empowered with complete administrative authority, arguing that such steps are essential to regaining the trust of the region’s residents.
