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India Today
5 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
A language war brews
Jammu and Kashmir was amongst the first states and Union Territories to implement the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, but had been immune from the furore against the policy's three-language formula and the suspicion that it signified an 'imposition of Hindi'. But it couldn't stave off a political standoff over language for long—a recruitment notification for 75 Naib-Tehsildar posts on June 9, requiring a mandatory 50-mark Urdu test has spawned a controversy. A knowledge of Urdu is deemed essential for J&K revenue department jobs—it had been the only official language of Kashmir, and the region's centuries-old revenue, land and administrative records are in Urdu. However, the change in J&K's status from state to Union territory in 2019 also brought key changes to its domicile and land laws—in 2020, the official language list was expanded to five, with Kashmiri, Hindi, Dogri and English becoming part of it. This is the basis on which the opposition BJP is pillorying the Omar Abdullah government over the mandatory Urdu exam. Predictably, it has likened it to the sidelining of Jammu, where a majority speak Dogri, Pahari and Hindi. 'We have five languages; this looks like the prioritisation of one region over the other,' says Sat Sharma, president of the J&K BJP.
Scroll.in
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
BJP seeks to drop Urdu from J&K recruitment exam, NC and PDP allege cultural erasure
The Bharatiya Janata Party's demand to make the knowledge of Urdu non-mandatory in the upcoming Nab Tehsildar exam in Jammu and Kashmir has drawn criticism from the ruling National Conference and the Opposition Peoples Democratic Party, who have claimed the move amounts to cultural erasure, The Hindu reported on Saturday. Through a notification issued on Monday regarding the recruitment of 75 revenue posts, the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board had told candidates that their 'working knowledge of Urdu' would be assessed in one of the exams. Since Urdu is commonly used in revenue records, land settlements, court rulings, and legal correspondence in the Union Territory, a basic understanding of the language is considered essential for revenue-related roles, according to The Indian Express. On Thursday, BJP MLA Sunil Sharma, who is also the leader of the Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, and the Hindutva party's state unit president Sat Sharma met with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha seeking intervention in the matter. Sunil Sharma reportedly told Sinha that as the Union Territory has five official languages, making only one of those mandatory for the exam 'violates the constitutional principles of equal opportunity and administrative impartiality'. He claimed this would create ' an unfair barrier, particularly disadvantaging aspirants from the Jammu Division', reported The Indian Express. The National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party have opposed the BJP's request. On Saturday, The Hindu quoted National Conference MLA Tanvir Sadiq as saying that Urdu's role in Jammu and Kashmir's revenue, judicial and administrative systems is 'historically established' and was 'not in any political or sectarian agenda'. Sadiq said that undermining the role of the language would be 'historically dishonest'. It could also lead to significant administrative and legal disruptions, he claimed. 'We are committed to protecting Jammu and Kashmir's historical institutions, cultural identity, and administrative continuity,' said the MLA. 'We reject any attempt to politicize or communalize the status of Urdu for short term gains.' Peoples Democratic Party leader and Pulwama MLA Waheed-ur-Rehmaan Parra described the BJP's demand as 'a move that risks erasing J&K's rich archive and cultural legacy'. He said that 'Urdu is more than a language, it's a key part of the region's heritage,' and warned that undermining it 'divides communities and rewrites memory'. Parra's party colleague Naeem Akhtar said that Urdu has been the official language of Jammu and Kashmir for centuries. He urged the National Conference government to resist what he called the BJP's 'hate for the language', The Hindu reported.
United News of India
21-05-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
100-metre-long Tiranga leads Tiranga Yatra in Jammu
Jammu, May 20 (UNI) Portraying patriotism and solidarity with the Indian Armed Forces, a 'Tiranga Yatra' was organized by the Citizens for National Security, Jammu in Ward No 9, Jammu. President J&K BJP Sat Sharma, accompanied by Yudhvir Sethi, Vice-President and MLA, Priya Sethi, former Minister, Rajesh Gupta, District President, Sanjita Dogra, President, BJP Mahila Morcha, former JMC Councillor Suneet Raina and others prominent persons participated in the Tiranga Yatra. The Yatra was led by an awe-inspiring 100-metre-long national flag, held aloft by spirited children who symbolized the future of a proud and resolute nation. The event saw enthusiastic participation from nearly 1,000 citizens, cutting across age groups and backgrounds. Yatra commenced at Ved Mandir near Shree Institute and culminated at Kachi Chawni, Jammu. Sat Sharma, while addressing on the occasion, lauded the Indian Forces for their valiance and sacrifices. He said, "our rich history is filled with the stories of valour and moments of pride." He termed the Operation Sindoor as one of the historic moments, when our nation has shown its true power to the world. 'Yeh Naya Bharat Hai, Yeh Chedoge to Chodega Nahin (This is new India, if troubled, it won't forgive),' said Sat Sharma. Sharma also lauded the efforts of the Civil Society for the massive Tiranga rally and said that these gestures sing the valour of Indian Armed Forces. Sethi, speaking on the occasion, said, "the brave Indian forces have conveyed the message that in order to safeguard our citizens, our nation is capable of delivering precise and strong strikes as and when required." Priya Sethi said that India is proud of the successful Operation Sindoor and hence the people in different areas are organizing Tiranga rallies to support Indian Forces in the fight against terrorism. Rajesh Gupta paid respects to the indomitable courage, valour and patriotism of brave soldiers. Sanjita Dogra said, "Yatra is a symbol of our unwavering commitment towards the honour of Matr Bhoomi." UNI VBH SS
United News of India
21-05-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
100-meter long Tiranga leads Tiranga Yatra in Jammu
Jammu, May 20 (UNI) Portraying patriotism and solidarity with the Indian Armed Forces, a 'Tiranga Yatra' was organised by the Citizens for National Security, Jammu in Ward No. 9, Jammu. President, J&K BJP Sat Sharma accompanied by Yudhvir Sethi, Vice-President and MLA, Priya Sethi, former Minister, Rajesh Gupta, District President, Sanjita Dogra, President, BJP Mahila Morcha, former JMC Councillor Suneet Raina and others prominent persons participated in the Tiranga Yatra. The Yatra was led by an awe-inspiring 100-meter-long national flag, held aloft by spirited children who symbolized the future of a proud and resolute nation. The event saw enthusiastic participation from nearly one thousand citizens, cutting across age groups and backgrounds. Yatra commenced at Ved Mandir near Shree Institute and culminated at Kachi Chawni, Jammu. Sat Sharma, while addressing on the occasion, lauded the Indian Forces for their valiance and sacrifices. He said that our rich history is filled with the stories of valour and moments of pride. He termed the Operation Sindoor as one of the historic moments, when our nation has shown its true power to the world. 'Yeh Naya Bharat Hai, Yeh Chedoge to Chodega Nahin (This is new India, if troubled, it won't forgive)', said Sat Sharma. Sharma also lauded the efforts of the Civil Society for the massive Tiranga rally and said that these gestures sing the valour of Indian Armed Forces. Sethi, speaking on the occasion, said that the brave Indian forces have conveyed the message that in order to safeguard our citizens, our nation is capable of delivering precise and strong strikes as and when required. Priya Sethi said that India is proud of the successful Operation Sindoor and hence the people in different areas are organizing Tiranga Rallies to support Indian Forces in the fight against terrorism. Rajesh Gupta paid respects to the indomitable courage, valour and patriotism of our brave soldiers. Sanjita Dogra said that Yatra is a symbol of our unwavering commitment towards the honour of Matr Bhoomi. UNI VBH RN
India Gazette
13-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
J-K BJP chief Sat Sharma meets families of cross-border shelling victims
Poonch (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], May 14 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Sat Sharma visited the families of the victims who lost their lives in heavy cross-border shelling by Pakistan in recent days. Speaking to ANI on Tuesday, Sharma said that Pakistan targeted civilian areas. Further referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation, the BJP leader also asserted that every action of Pakistan will be given a befitting reply. '...We met the families who have lost their loved ones in Pakistani shelling... Pakistan targeted civilian areas... PM Modi clearly said that the fight between Pakistan and India is for Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and terrorism, and trade cannot go on simultaneously... Every action of Pakistan will be given a befitting reply,' BJP President Sat Sharma said. Heavy cross-border shelling by Pakistan after Operation Sindoor, conducted by the Indian Armed Forces in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attack, had caused damage to homes and religious sites in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara, Uri, and Poonch. On Tuesday, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited the Sub District Hospital in Kupwara to meet civilians who were injured in recent shelling by Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC). CM Abdullah also inspected community bunkers in Tangdhar and visited the shelling-affected areas. After meeting residents affected by cross-border shelling in Kupwara, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that the government will compensate the people after the damage assessment is completed. 'By God's grace, we haven't lost any lives here, but of course, there is a loss of public property like houses, shops, and madrasas. The District Collector is with us. They will do the damage assessment. The assessment will be completed by today or tomorrow, and then the government will compensate the people accordingly. The immunity bunkers were made, but we didn't need them for a long time. And we will try to build individual bunkers around the border and LoC areas,' Abdullah told the media. The J-K Chief Minister visited the Pakistani shelling-affected areas in Tangdhar and said that the residents affected have shown 'remarkable courage'. After India and Pakistan came to an understanding of the cessation of hostilities, life slowly returned to normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir. (ANI)
