Srinagar, Aug. 8 -- Jammu and Kashmir lieutenant governor's order of banning 25 books, some of them by acclaimed national and international authors, has raised many eyebrows and elicited harsh reactions and condemnations. The government's home department has issued a notification for "forfeiture" of the 25 books to the government written by some prominent and acclaimed authors, political scientists and historians, including AG Noorani, Arundhati Roy, Sumantra Bose, Sugata Bose, Christopher Snedden and Victoria Schofield for allegedly propagating "false narrative and secessionism" in J&K. Most of these books are written on Kashmir conflict, politics, history and human rights. The order has attracted surprise and condemnation from many circles. Prominent journalist and editor of Kashmir Times, Anuradha Bhasin, whose book is on the list, said that the government was "scared of words". " I've read most of these books & written one. They're well researched & not one glorifies terrorism which this government claims to have ended. Scared of words challenging your lies!," Bhasin said. Another prominent journalist Aarti Tickoo Singh said: "I am aghast at this idiotic order issued by the LG Manoj Sinha/Omar Abdullah/Modi government ...In fact, how can the Indian government ban any book at all? I may disagree with most of the books on their list, but I will never support banning literature... I would rather rebut a view than not read it. It's moronic to ban books or any literature -especially in the age of the internet and free e-books. It seems the cabal is desperate to set Jammu & Kashmir ablaze, constantly devising new ways to escalate tensions. Pathetic." Hurriyat leader and chief priest of Jamia Masjid in Srinagar, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said that the ban on books won't erase history. "Banning books by scholars and reputed historians will not erase historical facts and the repertoire of lived memories of people of Kashmir. It only exposes the insecurities and limited understanding of those behind such authoritarian actions, and the contradiction in proudly hosting the ongoing Book Festival to showcase its literary commitment!," he said on X. National Conference spokesperson, Imran Nabi Dar, said, "If there is evidence that these books incite violence or glorify terrorism , the government is justified in banning them. But banning well-researched, critical works like AG Noorani, published by reputable publishers raises concerns," he said. The government ordered the forfeiture of the books under section 98 of Bhartiya Nagrika Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. "The identified 25 books have been found to excite secessionism and endangering sovereignty and integrity of India, thereby, attracting the provisions of sections 152, 196 & 197 of BNS 2023... The government of J&K hereby declares publication of the books and their copies or other documents to be forfeited to the government. By order of the LG," said the notification by Chandraker Bharti, principal secretary to the government. "This literature would deeply impact the psyche of youth by promoting a culture of grievance, victim hood and terrorist heroism. Some of the means by which this literature has contributed to the radicalization of youth in J&K include distortion of historical facts, glorification of terrorists, vilification of security forces, religious radicalization, promotion of alienation, pathway to violence and terrorism etc," it said. The forfeited books also include Between Democracy & Nation: Gender and Militarisation in Kashmir by Seema Kazi, Do you Remember Kunan Poshpora? by Essar Batool and Resisting Disappearance: Military Occupation and Women's Activism in Kashmir by Ather Zia. The publication of Jamaat-e-Islami founder Moulana Abul A'la Maududi Maududi's Al Jihad fil Islam and Muslim Brotherhood founder Hasan al-Banna's Mujahid ki Azan are also on the list. The Peoples Democratic Party said "This is not just an assault on literature but a dangerous precedent that undermines very foundation of democratic discourse. Governments may disagree with a viewpoint, but silencing it through censorship is a sign of weakness, not strength," the party spokesperson said....