The National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL) has introduced a form which requires Urdu authors to declare that the content of their work will not be against the government or the nation.
According to the Indian Express, the form reads:
I __ son/daughter of __ confirm that my book/magazine titled __ which has been approved for bulk purchase by NCPUL’s monetary assistance scheme does not contain anything against the policies of the government of India or the interest of the nation, does not cause disharmony of any sort between different classes of the country, and is not monetarily supported by any government or non-government institution.
The NCPUL that operates under the Ministry of Human Resource Development also warned that in the case of a breach, legal action can be taken against the writer along with retracting any monetary assistance that was previously provided.
Justifying the new rule, NCPUL director Irteza Karim, who was appointed early last year, said to the Indian Express:
If a writer wants financial aid from the government, then, of course, the content cannot be against (the government). NCPUL is a government organisation and we are government employees. We will naturally protect the interests of the government.
Karim said the move was triggered by an incident last year when a book on Abul Kalam Azad put out some incorrect information.
Shanaaz Nabi, an author and a professor at the University of Calcutta said:
It is an insult to ask an author to get two witnesses to sign a declaration that will curb their freedom of expression.
Read the full story on the Indian Express.
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