Fri. Jul 18th, 2025

A group of BJP MLAs gathered in Jammu to protest against the government’s recent decision to make Urdu a mandatory language for candidates applying for Naib Tehsildar posts. The protest was led by several senior leaders of the party, who argued that the decision was unfair and would put candidates from other linguistic backgrounds at a disadvantage. The MLAs claimed that the move was an attempt to appease a particular community and would lead to resentment among other groups. They demanded that the government immediately roll back the order and make the language requirement more inclusive. The protest was peaceful, but the MLAs warned that they would intensify their agitation if their demands were not met. The issue has sparked a heated debate in the region, with some arguing that Urdu is an important language in Jammu and Kashmir and should be promoted, while others see it as an attempt to impose a particular language on the people. The government has defended its decision, saying that it is aimed at promoting Urdu and providing opportunities to candidates from the Muslim community. However, the BJP MLAs argue that the decision is discriminatory and would harm the interests of candidates from other communities. The protest has highlighted the sensitive nature of language politics in Jammu and Kashmir, where different communities have different linguistic and cultural identities. The region has a complex history of language disputes, and the current controversy has the potential to exacerbate existing tensions. The BJP MLAs have vowed to continue their protest until the government reverses its decision, and the issue is likely to dominate the political discourse in the region for some time. The Jammu and Kashmir administration has been facing criticism from various quarters over its language policy, and the current controversy has added to the growing unrest. The government’s decision has also been opposed by other political parties, who see it as an attempt to divide the people on linguistic lines. The issue has sparked a wider debate on the role of language in politics and the need for inclusive language policies that promote diversity and equality. The protest by the BJP MLAs has brought attention to the need for a more nuanced approach to language policy, one that takes into account the diverse linguistic and cultural identities of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. As the controversy continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the government will respond to the demands of the protesting MLAs and whether it will revisit its decision on the Urdu mandate.

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