- Dy CM, Advisor reject PDP charge over Urdu exclusion from Revenue Department
- NC Government says Urdu’s role in Revenue Department will be protected
- Urdu row: Government accuses PDP of spreading disinformation
Jammu, April 28: The Omar Abdullah-led National Conference government on Tuesday clarified that Urdu will not be excluded from the syllabus or recruitment rules for posts in the Revenue Department, strongly rejecting the allegations levelled by the opposition People’s Democratic Party.
Addressing a hurriedly convened press conference in Jammu, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, accused the PDP of spreading misinformation over the reported exclusion of Urdu from recruitment rules in the Revenue Department.
Wani said the Revenue Department had only issued a notification related to recruitment rules and had invited suggestions and objections from stakeholders. He maintained that no final notification had been issued to remove Urdu either from the syllabus or from the recruitment framework. Reports also stated that the government has described the notification as part of a public objection process, not a final decision.
“Our government believes that Urdu is very important and significant for working in the Revenue Department. It will never be excluded from the recruitment rules,” Wani said, adding that knowledge of Urdu remains relevant because a large number of revenue records in Jammu and Kashmir have historically been maintained in the language.
The clarification came amid political criticism from the PDP, which had accused the government of weakening Urdu’s position in revenue services. PDP leader Iltija Mufti had staged a protest over the issue, alleging that the proposed change was an attack on Jammu and Kashmir’s linguistic and cultural heritage.
Responding to the criticism, Wani said the opposition party should not mislead people on a sensitive cultural and administrative matter. He said the National Conference government recognizes Urdu’s importance and would continue to protect its role in revenue-related functioning.
Asked about PDP’s broader allegation that the NC government had failed on different fronts, Wani said the people of Jammu and Kashmir had given the National Conference a mandate and the government would present its achievements before the public at the time of the next elections. He advised the PDP to show patience and wait for the democratic process.
Wani also rejected the charge that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah remained occupied with events outside Jammu and Kashmir. He said Omar Abdullah was fulfilling his responsibilities as chief minister while also playing an important role on a wider political platform.
Refuting the PDP’s accusation that the NC was promoting the BJP’s agenda, Wani reminded the opposition party that it was the PDP that had formed a government with the BJP in Jammu and Kashmir, despite the National Conference offering outside support at that time. He said the political consequences of that alliance were well known to the people.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary also responded to criticism over the government seeking funds from the Centre. He said there was nothing wrong in demanding financial assistance from the Union Government, as Jammu and Kashmir contributes to national development and has a rightful share in public resources.
“J&K is also contributing to the development and growth of the nation. If we take financial assistance from the Centre, there is nothing wrong,” the deputy chief minister said.
Choudhary also criticized the PDP, calling it a frustrated party with no clear political direction. He said the National Conference was committed to the development and welfare of Jammu and Kashmir and would continue to work for the interests of the people.