Srinagar: A fresh controversy has erupted in Jammu & Kashmir after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanded the exclusion of Urdu as an optional language from the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) examinations. The move has sparked sharp criticism from regional parties, who have termed it a deliberate attempt at cultural erasure, as per a report by the Madhyamam.
BJP leaders argued that Urdu is no longer relevant for youth appearing in competitive exams and claimed the language gives unfair advantage to a particular section of candidates. They demanded that Urdu be removed from the list of optional languages in the recruitment process.
However, the National Conference (NC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have condemned the demand, accusing the BJP of targeting Jammu and Kashmir’s linguistic heritage. “This is a blatant attack on our identity. Urdu is not just a language—it is a symbol of our shared culture and history,” said NC spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar.
PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti also reacted strongly, stating that such moves are part of a larger design to erase the region’s cultural and historical identity. “After abrogating Article 370, the central government continues to dismantle every symbol of Jammu & Kashmir’s uniqueness,” she said.
Urdu has been the official language of Jammu & Kashmir since 1889 and continues to be widely spoken and used in administration and literature. The demand to remove it from exams is being seen by many as an effort to sideline the language from public life.
