Srinagar, Sep 22: More than 4,200 books have been withdrawn from libraries across Jammu and Kashmir over “objectionable and anti-national” content, with over 21.8 lakh books screened in a two-month-long exercise, the government has informed the Assembly.
In a written reply to a question by Awami Ittihad Party (AIP) MLA Khursheed Ahmad Sheikh, Education Minister Sakina Itoo as per Kashmir Convener said 4,249 books were withdrawn from circulation — 253 from Jammu and 3,996 from the Kashmir Valley.
The government has referred 1,752 books of different titles to the Director of Colleges for expert examination, of which 538 are from Jammu and 1,214 from the Valley. Of the 518 banned books removed, 40 were from Jammu and 478 from Kashmir, the minister said.
The reply came after MLA Sheikh alleged that books bearing the title “Kashmir” were being targeted. “I have heard that anything related to the Kashmir issue or Kashmir is being removed from libraries of universities and colleges. Even books by great writers on Kashmir are being removed. This needs a debate in the House. Do they want a bookless society in Kashmir?” he said.
The MLA demanded that the government disclose the names of all books removed from circulation and the reasons for their removal. “We must be told what books are removed from circulation and why. The government must come out with the names of all these books,” he said.
MLA Langate Sheikh Khurshid also accused the Omar Abdullah government of facilitating the screening process and alleged that the Chief Minister, who had promised restoration of special status during election rallies, was now “extending the BJP agenda in the region”.
Responding to the allegations, Minister Itoo said “clear and objective criteria have been adopted for identifying objectionable material for scrutiny of books available in colleges”. She said the scrutiny process is a “laborious exercise” and may take more time to complete.
The minister said the exercise was initiated as higher education institutions are centres of higher learning, research and academic excellence and are expected to foster an environment that upholds constitutional values, academic freedom, critical thinking, scientific temper, responsible citizenship and respect for the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India.
In July this year, the education department and universities issued separate orders to all heads of departments to conduct a comprehensive screening of all books — recently acquired or older publications — in their offices, classrooms, staff rooms and libraries.
The order followed the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha administration’s decision on July 4 to withdraw two books — Personalities and Legends of J&K by Hilal Ahmad and Santosh Meena, and Great Personalities of Jammu and Kashmir by Sushant Giri — after describing their content as “highly inappropriate”. The book Personalities and Legends used terms such as “India-occupied Kashmir” and described banned JKLF founder Maqbool Bhat as “Shaheed-e-Azam”.
Last year, on August 5, the sixth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370, the home department banned the publication and circulation of 25 books on Kashmir, saying they promote a “false narrative” and “secessionism” in the Union Territory. The books include Azadi by Arundhati Roy, Kashmir: The Case for Freedom by Tariq Ali and Pankaj Mishra, Confronting Terrorism, edited by Maroof Raza, and In Search of a Future by David Devdas.
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