The BJP’s move to seek the intervention of Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant-Governor, to declare Urdu non-mandatory for Naib Tehsildar posts in the Union Territory, has sparked a political storm. The ruling National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party have opposed any such decision.
“We believe that the place of Urdu in our revenue, judicial, and administrative system is rooted in history, not in any political or sectarian agenda. Urdu became the official administrative language of J&K over 130 years ago during Maharaja’s reign, evolving naturally as a unifying and functional language for all regions and communities. Any attempt to undermine Urdu’s role today would not only be historically dishonest but would create immense administrative and legal complications, risking serious disruption in governance,” NC leader and MLA Zadibal Tanvir Sadiq said.
Mr. Sadiq’s remarks came a day after BJP leader Sunil Sharma, also the Leader of the Opposition in the J&K Legislative Assembly, and BJP State president Sat Sharma called on Lieutenant-Governor Manoj Sinha and sought his intervention “to make the working knowledge of Urdu language non-mandatory for Naib Tehsildar examination”.
According to a Raj Bhawan spokesman, the BJP pointed out that making working knowledge of one language mandatory, given that the U.T. has five official languages, violates the constitutional principles of equal opportunity and administrative impartiality, and thus creates an unfair barrier, particularly disadvantageous to aspirants from the Jammu Division.
After reading down Article 370 in 2019, the Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill, 2020, was passed by the Parliament where Kashmiri, Dogri, Urdu, Hindi and English were declared as the official languages. Earlier, Urdu was the sole official language of J&K.
“For decades, officers, patwaris, lawyers, and judges have been trained in Urdu, ensuring seamless continuity in administration. The system, the records, and the legal processes were all built around it. We are committed to protecting J&K’s historical institutions, cultural identity, and administrative continuity. We reject any attempt to politicize or communalize the status of Urdu for short term gains,” Mr. Sadiq said.
Peoples Democratic Party leader and MLA Pulwama Waheed-ur-Rehmaan Parra said the BJP’s demand to remove Urdu from Naib Tehsildar exams was “a move that risks erasing J&K’s rich archive and cultural legacy”.
“Urdu is more than a language, it’s a key part of the region’s heritage. Undermining it divides communities and rewrites memory,” Mr. Parra said.
Former Minister and senior PDP leader Naeem Akhtar said Urdu was the official language of J&K for centuries now. “It continues to be one. At least 70% of the population is familiar with it in written and spoken form. All revenue records are preserved in this language. The BJP’s hate for the language should be resisted by the NC government,” Mr. Akhtar said.
Published – June 13, 2025 10:41 pm IST
