J&K CM Omar Abdullah: ‘We’ve Never Banned Books, Never Will

Quick Summary

• Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on August 8, 2025, distanced himself from a ban on 25 books imposed by the Lieutenant-Governor’s administration.
• Responding online, Abdullah stated: “I’ve never banned books and I never would,” emphasizing that the ban was enforced under the Home Department managed by the L-G.
• The J&K Home department invoked Section 98 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023 to categorise these books as “forfeited for propagating false narrative and secessionism.”
• Books authored by prominent writers such as Arundhati Roy, Ayesha jalal, Sumantra Bose, Sugata Bose, Christopher Snedden, and others were included in this list.
• Opposition to this move is growing among various voices in Jammu & Kashmir.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The decision by J&K’s Lieutenant-Governor to enforce a ban on 25 high-profile books underscores an effort to regulate narratives perceived as promoting falsehoods or secessionist ideas within sensitive regions like Jammu & Kashmir. While proponents may view it as necessary for national security or political stability in an area marked historically by tensions over autonomy and separatism debates, critics argue that it stifles intellectual freedom and dissenting perspectives crucial in democratic setups.

Omar Abdullah’s assertion highlights a key administrative dynamic-his control over other departments juxtaposed wiht limited authority regarding decisions made solely under L-G jurisdiction (e.g., Home Department).This scenario raises broader questions about governance structures under Article 370’s changes while reinvigorating debates surrounding censorship versus free expression at large across India.

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