CPI(M) MP V Sivadasan Slams Ban on 25 Books in J&K, Calls It Undemocratic

New Delhi, August 7: CPI(M) Rajya Sabha Member V. Sivadasan has strongly opposed the recent decision by the Jammu and Kashmir administration to ban 25 books, calling the move “deeply troubling” and an assault on democratic values. Speaking on the matter in New Delhi on Thursday, Sivadasan urged all democratic and secular forces across the country to come together and oppose the ban, which he termed as painful and undemocratic.

“India is a democratic and secular republic. Such bans contradict the very spirit of our Constitution. Silencing intellectual and historical discourse is not the path of a progressive society,” Sivadasan remarked, emphasizing the importance of freedom of expression and academic inquiry in any healthy democracy.

The Jammu and Kashmir government, through an official notification issued on Wednesday, ordered the forfeiture and ban of 25 publications on the grounds that they allegedly promote false narratives and glorify terrorism. The banned books include works by renowned scholars, historians, and writers, both Indian and international, covering themes related to Kashmir’s political history, conflict, and self-determination.

The government’s notification claimed that these publications contained content that could incite unrest, spread misinformation, or disrupt public order. However, critics argue that banning scholarly and literary works under the pretext of national security undermines academic freedom and restricts diverse perspectives essential for democratic debate.

Sivadasan expressed deep concern over the broader implications of the ban, warning that it could set a dangerous precedent for suppressing dissent and curbing intellectual freedom in other parts of the country as well. He emphasized that dissent, debate, and the right to question state narratives form the cornerstone of India’s democratic ethos.