Oppose the Ban on Books in Jammu and Kashmir
The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement on August 7, 2025
THE Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) opposes the decision of the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir to ban 25 books. This censorship is yet another expression of authoritarianism and a brazen attack on the freedom of expression.
The Lieutenant Governor, acting as a representative of the BJP-led Union government, is aggressively curtailing the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Indian Constitution. Citing the pretext of aiding ‘secessionism and terrorism’, his administration has imposed a ban on 25 books that explore the history of Kashmir and the roots of its current issues. Among these are works by eminent authors such as A G Noorani, Anuradha Bhasin, Arundhati Roy and others.
The CPI(M) demands the immediate revocation of the ban on the books. Statehood for Jammu and Kashmir, along with full democratic rights, must be restored without delay. The elected government should be empowered with full administrative authority. Only through such measures can the confidence of the people of Jammu and Kashmir be regained.
