Srinagar, December 27: Police on Thursday baton charged students Kashmir University who were holding a sit-in protest at Residency Road here against the “failure” of government to promote Kashmiri language.
Chanting slogans like “do justice with mother tongue, stop discrimination with Kashmiri language” dozens of Kashmir University students including good number of girls assembled at Press Enclave and staged demonstrations to protest the alleged “discrimination” with Kashmiri language.
The protesting students said government’s tall claim of promoting Kashmiri language which is a blend of Sanskrit, Persian and Arabic has proved as a hoax as no successive regime other than assurances took any firm steps for its promotion.
Aggrieved over what they termed “namesake” forums for exploiting Kashmiri language for their personal benefits, they said organizing symposiums and delivering lectures does not make any difference until and unless some firm steps are taken to save local language of Kashmir.
“We don’t run any organization or seek monitory benefits, we have gathered here to raise our voice against injustice meted out to our mother tongue. What steps did the government take so far for its promotion? We did not found any school where Kashmiri language is taught,” said Sofi Hilal a student.
The students had earlier staged protest outside Director Education office here to highlight step motherly treatment being meted out to local language.
“We met advisor to the Governor Khursheed Ahmad Ganai and Director Education G.N Itoo and requested them to make Kashmiri, Dogri and Budhi languages compulsory in secondary and same should be introduced in higher secondary level in all districts including Chenab Valley,” said Sofi.
He said everyone whom they met assured them about implementation of order but nothing was done.
Meanwhile students sat on a dharna at Residency Road for half an hour and blocked vehicular movement; however the police resorted to mild lathicharge to disperse protesting students who later dispersed off.
