JAMMU, JULY 14: All BJP MLAs staged a strong protest outside the Civil Secretariat in Jammu, opposing the Jammu and Kashmir 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 J&K Assembly and J&K BJP General Secretary, Sunil Sharma.
The BJP MLAs condemned the move as discriminatory and unjust, calling it a deliberate attempt by the Omar Abdullah-led National Conference government to ignore the aspirations of the youth of Jammu and other non-Urdu-speaking regions.
Speaking to the media, Sunil Sharma said that this policy amounts to grave injustice against deserving candidates who are otherwise qualified but are being excluded based on language preference.
“This is not just about language. This is about rights, opportunities, and equal treatment. Urdu is one of the official languages of Jammu & Kashmir, but it is not the only one. Why should proficiency in Urdu be made mandatory when there are several other official languages recognized by the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir?” asked Sharma.
The BJP MLAs asserted that they had already exhausted all peaceful and democratic means to oppose the decision. “We submitted memorandums, led delegations, and even met with the Lieutenant Governor. Though the LG acknowledged our concern, he stated that the recruitment matter falls under the purview of the state government,” said BJP MLAs.
MLAs highlighted that the Chief Minister had previously assured BJP representatives that the issue would be looked into, but no action followed. “This betrayal of public trust has left us with no option but to protest,” they said.
MLAs also criticized the Chief Minister for allegedly playing the victim card while failing to perform his basic duties.
“Instead of solving the problems of the people, he is more concerned about enjoying the privileges of office. The youth of Jammu and Kashmir deserve a fair and transparent recruitment process, not political manipulation,” they said.
The BJP MLAs warned that if the government continues to turn a deaf ear to the people’s demands, the protest will escalate. “Today’s protest is a symbolic message. We are prepared to take the agitation to the next level if the NC government does not immediately revoke the Urdu language requirement in the Naib Tehsildar recruitment,” Sharma concluded.
