Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday dismissed allegations of the removal of Urdu from revenue recruitment, asserting that no such decision has been approved by his government and accusing the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of spreading misinformation.
Speaking to reporters, Omar clarified that while a proposal regarding the removal of Urdu had been received from the concerned department, it has not been cleared.
“There is no droppage of Urdu. The file is still on my table. I have not approved it,” he said.
He emphasized that the government had merely sought public feedback on the proposal, terming it a routine and necessary step. “There is a clear difference between asking for public comments and dropping a subject. We are an elected government, and it is our responsibility to take people’s views into account,” he added.
Taking a swipe at the PDP leadership, Omar accused them of misleading the public for political gains.
“They should show the order which mentions droppage. They only showed the order seeking public comments. Those who have nothing else to offer are running their politics on lies,” he said. He also challenged the PDP to produce any official document confirming the alleged decision. “If they have the courage, let them present the order for droppage. I am ready to present the file as well,” he asserted.
Linking the controversy to last year’s Rajya Sabha polls, Omar alleged that the PDP was attempting to divert public attention from its alleged role in aiding the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
“That’s why they are talking Urdu Urdu… This is the magic of a magician — you show something with one hand and do something else with the other,” he remarked.
The October 2025 Rajya Sabha elections—the first in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370—saw the National Conference win three seats, while the BJP’s Sat Sharma secured the fourth with 32 votes, exceeding its legislative strength and fuelling allegations of cross-voting. Information obtained through an RTI revealed that the National Conference, Congress and BJP had appointed two authorised agents each, while the PDP—despite having three legislators at the time did not appoint any agent.
Omar further alleged that the PDP was trying to shift focus from its alleged role in aiding the BJP.
“They helped the BJP in the Rajya Sabha polls and do not want people to pay attention to it, so they are raising the Urdu issue,” he claimed. He also blamed the PDP for the current political situation in Jammu and Kashmir, alleging that past decisions had long-term consequences. “Whatever we are suffering today is the result of bringing the BJP here and settling it. Even today, they are helping them internally. I have always said this,” he added.
The Chief Minister also raised concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, warning that its impact on election outcomes could set a “dangerous precedent.” He said he does not subscribe to allegations of pre-poll rigging through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), stressing instead the responsibility of political parties to safeguard them after polling.
“We used to do the same in the ballot paper era—keeping our people outside strong rooms. Mamata Banerjee also had that right and exercised it,” he said.
However, he drew a sharp distinction between EVM-related concerns and the SIR process, alleging that manipulation was now occurring through voter list revisions.
“Today, unfortunately, the theft is not happening through EVMs. It is being done unfortunately through the Election Commission via SIR…. Voters are being removed from the rolls,” he claimed.
Calling the West Bengal elections a “huge challenge,” Omar warned of serious consequences if the SIR process influences outcomes. “This West Bengal election is a huge challenge for all of us because, God forbid, if the SIR shows its results, it can be very dangerous for all of us. ..We have to save ourselves from their attempt to rig the election by deleting voters from the voter list. I do not think anything can be done through the EVMs,” he said.
He also dismissed the credibility of exit polls, expressing confidence that their predictions would once again prove inaccurate. Referring to the 2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election, he said, “Five years ago, when elections were held in West Bengal, all exit polls handed over the government to the BJP. What was the result.”
