Gujarat activists, academics, artistes protest closure of 'Kashmir Times' office

Counterview Desk

As many as 134 citizens, mainly from Gujarat, condemning the closure of “Kashmir Times” office in Srinagar, have said that entire effort is to silence freedom of expression in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and teach its editor Anuradha Bhasin a lesson for opposing “repressive measures” of the Government of India following the abrogation of Article 370.
Calling the action vindictive, in a statement, they said, “Such measures of sealing the office of the ‘Kashmir Times’ are detrimental to the spirit of citizenry in a democratic country. Though Bhasin has got stay order against the sealing of the ‘Kashmir Times’ offices in J&K, the order has not been complied.”
Signatories from Gujarat include social activist and litterateur Prakash N Shah, veteran agricultural economist YK Alagh, danseuse Mallika Sarabhai, social scientist Ganshyam Shah and development economist Indira Hirway.

Text:

We, the citizens of India, condemn administrative actions of closing “Kashmir Times” under various pretexts and fully and wholeheartedly support and express solidarity with Anuradha Bhasin, editor, “Kashmir Times.” The entire country knows that these are the vindictive measures taken by the government against the "Kashmir Times".
Since last many years, there are steep rise in intolerance, curbing of freedom of expression, threatening, vigilantism, etc. by the state machinery. Particularly the situation of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) is very alarming. The state of J&K is facing the peak of this atmosphere and the closure of the "Kashmir Times" is in series of these.
Centring round the abrogation of Article 370 last year, the state repression is at galore in J&K. Not only common citizens including the people’s representative, old age people, sick, children, women and all but even the vernacular press were under captivity position.
Bold journalists like Anuradha Bhasin dared to challenge this by continuing to reflect people’s agony in their newspaper on one side; and taking the course of judiciary on the other hand. She has chosen not to surrender and continue publishing the “Kashmir Times” abiding by the ethics of journalism.
She filed the case before the Supreme Court against the closure of press in J&K during post-Article 370 abrogation period which invited the ire of the Government and the administration. Under these circumstances, the press in J&K are working under much duress.
Such measures of sealing the office of the “Kashmir Times” in Srinagar and “teach her a lesson” are detrimental to the spirit of citizenry in a democratic country. Though Bhasin has got stay order against the sealing of the “Kashmir Times” offices in J&K, the order has not been complied.
Under these circumstances, we, the citizens, have come forward and are expressing our solidarity with Anuradha Bhasin and demand before the government and administration to stop harassing Ms. Bhasin and the status of "Kashmir Times" must be restored for publication.
---
Click here for signatories

Comments

What Sister Nivedita understood about India that we have forgotten

By Harasankar Adhikari In the idea of a “Vikshit Bharat,” many real problems—hunger, poverty, ill health, unemployment, and joblessness—are increasingly overshadowed by the religious contest between Hindu and Muslim fundamentalisms. This contest is often sponsored and patronised by political parties across the spectrum, whether openly Hindutva-oriented, Islamist, partisan, or self-proclaimed secular.

The rise of the civilizational state: Prof. Pratap Bhanu Mehta warns of new authoritarianism

By A Representative Noted political theorist and public intellectual Professor Pratap Bhanu Mehta delivered a poignant reflection on the changing nature of the Indian state today, warning that the rise of a "civilizational state" poses a significant threat to the foundations of modern democracy and individual freedom. Delivering the Achyut Yagnik Memorial Lecture titled "The Idea of Civilization: Poison or Cure?" at the Ahmedabad Management Association, Mehta argued that India is currently witnessing a self-conscious political project that seeks to redefine the state not as a product of a modern constitution, but as an instrument of an ancient, authentic civilization.

Why experts say replacing MGNREGA could undo two decades of rural empowerment

By A Representative A group of scientists, academics, civil society organisations and field practitioners from India and abroad has issued an open letter urging the Union government to reconsider the repeal of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and to withdraw the newly enacted Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025. The letter, dated December 27, 2025, comes days after the VB–G RAM G Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 16 and subsequently approved by both Houses of Parliament, formally replacing the two-decade-old employment guarantee law.

NYT: RSS 'infiltrates' institutions, 'drives' religious divide under Modi's leadership

By Jag Jivan A comprehensive New York Times investigation published on December 26, 2025, chronicles the rise of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) — characterized as a far-right Hindu nationalist organization — from a shadowy group founded in 1925 to the world's largest right-wing force, marking its centenary in 2025 with unprecedented influence and mainstream acceptance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi , who joined the RSS as a young boy and later became a full-time campaigner before being deputized to its political wing in the 1980s, delivered his strongest public tribute to the group in his August 2025 Independence Day address. Speaking from the Red Fort , he called the RSS a "giant river" with dozens of streams touching every aspect of Indian life, praising its "service, dedication, organization, and unmatched discipline." The report describes how the RSS has deeply infiltrated India's institutions — government, courts, police, media, and academia — ...

India’s universities lag global standards, pushing students overseas: NITI Aayog study

By Rajiv Shah A new Government of India study, Internationalisation of Higher Education in India: Prospects, Potential, and Policy Recommendations , prepared by NITI Aayog , regrets that India’s lag in this sector is the direct result of “several systemic challenges such as inadequate infrastructure to provide quality education and deliver world-class research, weak industry–academia collaboration, and outdated curricula.”

Interfaith cooperation in Punjab village as Sikhs and Hindus support mosque construction

By Bharat Dogra A recent heart-warming report on Sikh and Hindu families helping to build a mosque in a village of Punjab deserves wide attention. It is such examples that truly strengthen national unity. There are many instances of mutual respect and cooperation among people of different religions and faiths that need to be better known today.

'Caste oppression ignored': NCERT textbooks reflect ideological bias, says historian

By A Representative The Indian History Forum organized a webinar titled “Rewriting the Past: Distortions and Ideological Interventions in NCERT History Textbooks” on 22 December 2025. The session featured historian Dr Ruchika Sharma, who critically examined recent changes in NCERT history textbooks and their implications for historical understanding and social cohesion among millions of students across the country.

Investment in rule of law a corporate imperative, not charity: Business, civil society leaders

By A Representative In a compelling town hall discussion hosted at L.J School of Law , prominent voices from industry and civil society underscored that corporate investment in strengthening the rule of law is not an act of charity but a critical business strategy for building a safer, stronger, and developed India by 2047. The dialogue, part of the Unmute podcast series, examined the intrinsic link between ethical business conduct , robust legal frameworks, and sustainable national development, against the sobering backdrop of India ranking 79th out of 142 countries on the global Rule of Law Index .

When a city rebuilt forgets its builders: Migrant workers’ struggle for sanitation in Bhuj

Khasra Ground site By Aseem Mishra* Access to safe drinking water and sanitation is not a privilege—it is a fundamental human right. This principle has been unequivocally recognised by the United Nations and repeatedly affirmed by the Supreme Court of India as intrinsic to the right to life and dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution. Yet, for thousands of migrant workers living in Bhuj, this right remains elusive, exposing a troubling disconnect between constitutional guarantees, policy declarations, and lived reality.

Search This Blog