The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday staged a protest in Srinagar against the draft rules of Jammu and Kashmir government that drop Urdu as a mandatory qualification for revenue jobs.
The protest follows the Jammu and Kashmir government’s notification of draft rules inviting public objections, which omit Urdu as a prerequisite for revenue posts.
PDP leader Iltija Mufti led the party protest in Srinagar which was later stopped by Police. She termed the move of dropping Urdu an erosion of J&K’s administrative and linguistic heritage.
Iltija called the change an attack on cultural identity, stressing that most revenue records remain in Urdu and the shift could disrupt administration.
She also attacked the ruling National Conference on the issue.
“Urdu is being sidelined, educational institutions like Jamia Siraj-ul-Uloom are being banned, students are being booked under Public Safety Act (PSA) in Sopore but the National Conference government is doing nothing,” she said, adding that Urdu serves as a link language among diverse communities in Jammu and Kashmir.
She questioned NC ‘silence’ on the issue of Urdu.
“National Conference has 50 MLAs. Why are they silent?” ….I want to ask the Chief Minister why he is busy in participating in marathons in different states instead of addressing his responsibilities here,” Iltija said.
She even accused NC of aligning with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on major issues.
The protest later dispersed peacefully.
