Omar Abdullah on Express report: ‘If people’s trust in election is lost, what is left in democracy?’

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed concern that banning books raises broader questions about democracy on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. He noted that the elected government does not have the authority to decide on matters related to book banning. Following the withdrawal of 4,812 "objectionable" books from J&K college libraries, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo emphasized that these books had no place in educational institutions.

Kashmir's chief cleric, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, described the withdrawal as "disturbing and unfortunate," questioning the motivations behind the decision and calling for transparency regarding the reasons for book removal. The chief cleric argued that academic freedom and access to diverse perspectives are essential for education and societal progress.

He alleged that the aim of the action was to ideologically regulate students' reading materials, potentially stifling critical thought. The scrutiny process for withdrawing books is ongoing and may take some time, according to the government.