People’s Democratic Party leader Iltija Mufti leads a protest over the protection of the Urdu language outside the PDP headquarters, in Srinagar on Tuesday. (ANI Photo) Srinagar: PDP leader Iltija Mufti Tuesday took to the streets to protest govt’s proposed move to remove knowledge of Urdu as an eligibility criterion under Jammu and Kashmir Revenue Service Recruitment Rules, calling it an attack on J&K’s linguistic heritage.Talking to reporters outside the party headquarters, Iltija said: “Urdu is being sidelined in govt services, educational institutions like Jamia Siraj-ul-Uloom are being shut, students are being booked under Public Safety Act in Sopore, but the National Conference govt is doing nothing.”She attempted to lead a protest march, but was stopped by police. “Urdu connects villages and cities across Jammu and Kashmir. It is part of our linguistic heritage, our identity and is a repository of knowledge,” she said. Urdu served as a link language among diverse communities, including Kashmiris, Paharis and Gujjars, Iltija maintained, questioning the rationale behind its removal.The education and revenue departments were under the elected govt, and it could not escape responsibility, she said, adding, “I want to ask the chief minister, why he is busy running marathons in different states instead of addressing his responsibilities here. Accusing NC of “doing BJP’s bidding”, Iltija said PDP “will resist these designs and defeat such moves”.The row began after the revenue department on April 10 issued a draft of J&K Revenue Service Recruitment Rules for non-gazetted posts, inviting objections within 15 days. The draft stated the minimum qualification for direct recruitment to be “graduation from any university”, omitting the knowledge of Urdu, which was earlier mandatory.In 1989, J&K’s then Dogra ruler replaced Persian with Urdu as the court language. After 1947, the J&K Constituent Assembly retained Urdu as the state’s official language. Over time, English gradually replaced Urdu in official communication. Urdu’s 131-year status as the sole official language in J&K ended in Sept 2020 when the central govt brought the J&K Official Languages Bill, declaring Urdu, Hindi, Kashmiri, Dogri and English as the official languages of the UT.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBengal Phase 2 Polls: 142 Constituencies Vote Today, Over 3.21 Crore Voters to DecideChokepoints of Power: how India can ‘trump’ China on the seasSwati Maliwal’s Explosive Exit: Assault Allegations, ‘Betrayal’ Charges Rock AAP As She Joins BJPIndian Aviation Sector Warns Of Possible Shutdown Amid Soaring Fuel CostsUNGA Chief Hails India’s Global Role, Calls India’s Leadership Central To MultilateralismIndia To Receive Fourth Unit Of S-400 Missile Systems From Russia, To Be Deployed In RajasthanISRO-s Big Shift- Civilians To Join Gaganyaan Missions – India-s Space Programme Expands”Online Radicalisation Led To…” Maharashtra CM On ISIS-Inspired AttackIndia’s Defence Spending Hits $92 Bn, Becomes World’s 5th Largest Amid Global Military SurgeIs Rafale deal with France stuck? Will India’s demand for access scuttle fighter deal?123PhotostoriesFrom tasting success and popularity after playing Samar to being ousted overnight from Anupamaa: Paras Kalnawat on his journeyKate Middleton dips into Princess Diana’s 1995 Germany look with sapphire earrings from the royal jewellery archivesAhead of ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2,’ buzz around the threequel adds to fans’ anticipation – here’s what we knowWhy BTS K-pop star Jungkook’s basic bodyweight routine may be more effective than your gym plan5 longest train journeys in the world: Did you know India has one?5 simple brain exercises that can boost memory without apps or toolsDeepika Padukone’s maternity-style playbook starts with a denim-on-denim look, proving she doesn’t do boringStep inside cricketer Yashasvi Jaiswal’s ₹5.38 crore stylish Mumbai residence5 Bhagavad Gita parenting lessons every parent should teach their childIndoor plants that can keep your home cool during summer123Hot PicksAmit ShahMamata BanerjeeBengal Women VotersPM Rally GunfireAssembly Election 2026Bengal Oath CeremonyTrinamool CongressTop TrendingSaeed Sheikh AfridiTamil Nadu electionPM modiSalim DolaAssam HS 12th ResultManish SisodiaMumbai Watermelon Poisoning newsBengal PollsJack GrealishIPL Orange Cap
Srinagar: PDP leader Iltija Mufti Tuesday took to the streets to protest govt’s proposed move to remove knowledge of Urdu as an eligibility criterion under Jammu and Kashmir Revenue Service Recruitment Rules, calling it an attack on J&K’s linguistic heritage.Talking to reporters outside the party headquarters, Iltija said: “Urdu is being sidelined in govt services, educational institutions like Jamia Siraj-ul-Uloom are being shut, students are being booked under Public Safety Act in Sopore, but the National Conference govt is doing nothing.”She attempted to lead a protest march, but was stopped by police. “Urdu connects villages and cities across Jammu and Kashmir. It is part of our linguistic heritage, our identity and is a repository of knowledge,” she said. Urdu served as a link language among diverse communities, including Kashmiris, Paharis and Gujjars, Iltija maintained, questioning the rationale behind its removal.The education and revenue departments were under the elected govt, and it could not escape responsibility, she said, adding, “I want to ask the chief minister, why he is busy running marathons in different states instead of addressing his responsibilities here. Accusing NC of “doing BJP’s bidding”, Iltija said PDP “will resist these designs and defeat such moves”.The row began after the revenue department on April 10 issued a draft of J&K Revenue Service Recruitment Rules for non-gazetted posts, inviting objections within 15 days. The draft stated the minimum qualification for direct recruitment to be “graduation from any university”, omitting the knowledge of Urdu, which was earlier mandatory.In 1989, J&K’s then Dogra ruler replaced Persian with Urdu as the court language. After 1947, the J&K Constituent Assembly retained Urdu as the state’s official language. Over time, English gradually replaced Urdu in official communication. Urdu’s 131-year status as the sole official language in J&K ended in Sept 2020 when the central govt brought the J&K Official Languages Bill, declaring Urdu, Hindi, Kashmiri, Dogri and English as the official languages of the UT.
