Srinagar: As opposition PDP on Tuesday staged a protest against the Jammu and Kashmir government for removing Urdu as a mandatory language in the revenue records, and said the move will have “far-reaching cultural consequences”, NC said that no such decision has been made by the government.
Led by Iltija Mufti, the People’s Democratic Party workers assembled at Sher-e-Kashmir Park here to protest the government’s alleged decision to remove Urdu from the list of mandatory languages in revenue records.
However, JKNC Senior Leader and Advisor to Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani on Tuesday responded to PDP leader Iltija Mufti over her remarks on the alleged removal of Urdu from the Tehsildar examination, saying there is no such decision by the government.
Advisor told KNS that the department had only issued a notification inviting objections from the public regarding the subject. He said seeking objections is part of a democratic process and allows people to share their views before any final decision is taken.
He said the government is aware of the role of Urdu, especially in revenue matters, and it cannot be separated from the system. He added that Urdu remains relevant in the syllabus and recruitment, and any change that affects administrative work is not practical. He said revenue officers need to read and examine documents in Urdu to perform their duties.
Responding to the allegations, Nasir said no notification has been issued to remove Urdu from the syllabus or recruitment process. He asked those raising concerns to present any such document if it exists. He said such claims create confusion among the public.
He said opposition parties have the right to question the government but should not mislead people. He also said the government is committed to ensuring that Urdu is not removed from the system.
Meanwhile, speaking to reporters here, Mufti said, “This is an attack on our culture and our civilisation. People of Jammu and Kashmir speak different languages like Kashmiri, Dogri, Gojri and Pahari, but Urdu acts as the common bond among all these languages.”
Urdu is being removed from revenue records and this is happening while the National Conference is in power, Mufti said.
Mufti said removing the Urdu language from revenue records is not only a bureaucratic decision but also a political move which will have “far-reaching cultural consequences”.
