The Maharashtra government has prohibited the publication, circulation, possession and storage of 114 literature items that allegedly spread extremism and promote radicalisation. The material has been linked to terrorist organisations, including the Islamic State. The banned items include magazines, articles, social media posts, audio files and video files. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the main concern behind the action was radicalisation. He said some of the material allegedly contained information about making bombs and staging violence. The government has stated that the material was being used to promote radicalisation through physical and digital platforms.
The action followed a communication sent by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) to the state government on March 17. The ATS had stated that certain newspapers, books, documents, paintings, drawings, photographs and other visible representations should be forfeited as they were allegedly connected with activities affecting the sovereignty and integrity of India and state security. Investigation by the ATS, intelligence inputs and cyber surveillance were reported to have found that extremist literature and propaganda were being circulated and shared through physical as well as digital platforms.
The Maharashtra government issued a notification on August 6, stating that the material allegedly promoted violent extremism and jihad, spread extremist ideology and encouraged the radicalisation of youths. It was also stated that the material could facilitate recruitment into terrorist organisations. The notification stated that the material was associated with terrorist organisations including the Islamic State (IS), Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP), Hizb-ul-Mujahideen Pir Panjal Regiment and Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), among others listed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The notification also covered related websites, social media platforms, encrypted channels and digital networks allegedly used to spread the content.
Section 98(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, was invoked by the Maharashtra government. Under the notification, all copies of the material listed in its annexure were declared forfeited to the government. Fadnavis also said the state government would have to closely monitor such activities and that there could be no compromise on national security. He also said that, in the absence of specific laws, such publications could not previously be banned. According to him, after the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 came into effect, the state government had a provision to take action.
Meanwhile, comments were also made on RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's outreach to Gen Z following the Jantar Mantar protests. Bhagwat had described Gen Z as more honest than the earlier generation. Fadnavis said that when the RSS chief speaks, he addresses the nation and does not express the views of any political party or government. He said the views were in the national interest.