BJP MLAs protest in Jammu over Urdu mandate for Naib Tehsildar posts, demand order rollback
The BJP MLAs of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday staged a strong protest outside the Civil Secretariat in Jammu, opposing the government’s decision to make Urdu a mandatory subject in the recruitment process for the post of Naib Tehsildar.
The protest was led by Leader of Opposition in the J&K Assembly and BJP general secretary, Sunil Sharma.
The BJP legislators condemned the move as discriminatory and unjust, calling it a deliberate attempt by the Omar Abdullah-led National Conference government to disregard the aspirations of the youth from Jammu and other non-Urdu-speaking regions.
Speaking to the media, Sharma said the policy amounted to “grave injustice” against deserving candidates who are otherwise qualified but are being excluded on the basis of language preference.
“This is not just about language, it is about rights, opportunities and equal treatment. Urdu is one of the official languages of J&K, but it is not the only one. Why should proficiency in Urdu be made mandatory when several other official languages are recognised in Jammu and Kashmir?” Sharma questioned.
The BJP MLAs said they had already exhausted all peaceful and democratic means to oppose the decision. “We submitted memorandums, led delegations and even met the Lieutenant Governor. Though the L-G acknowledged our concerns, he stated that recruitment falls under the purview of the UT government,” they said.
They claimed that the Chief Minister had earlier assured BJP representatives that the issue would be reviewed, but no action had followed. “This betrayal of public trust has left us with no option but to protest,” they said.
The saffron party legislators also accused the Chief Minister of playing the victim card while allegedly neglecting his responsibilities. “Instead of addressing people’s issues, he seems more interested in enjoying the privileges of office. The youth of J&K deserve a fair and transparent recruitment process, not political manipulation,” they added.
The MLAs warned that if the government continued to turn a deaf ear to public demands, the protests would intensify. “Today’s protest is a symbolic message. We are prepared to escalate the agitation if the NC government does not immediately revoke the Urdu language requirement in the Naib Tehsildar recruitment,” Sharma said.
According to a notification issued by the J&K Services Selection Board (JKSSB) on June 9, candidates shortlisted on the basis of the written examination will be required to appear for an additional qualifying test to assess their “working knowledge of Urdu.” The recruitment process is being held for 75 posts.
J & K