PDP leader and legislator Waheed Ur Rehman Parra has strongly criticised the BJP for what he termed as a “dangerous and disgraceful” attempt to project the Urdu language through a communal lens, warning that such narratives threaten the cultural and administrative fabric of Jammu and Kashmir.
Parra described Urdu as “not a symbol of any religion but the throbbing pulse of Jammu & Kashmir’s identity,” emphasising its historical significance in the region. “It echoes the collective memories and soulful struggles of our people over centuries. It is the language of poets, courts, revenue offices, administration, and everyday life here,” he said.
The PDP leader further expressed concern over a recent order by the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) which stayed the requirement of basic Urdu knowledge for candidates appearing in the Naib Tehsildar recruitment examination. He termed the order “even more disturbing,” alleging that judicial institutions are beginning to yield to political pressure.
“BJP’s protests appear to be shaping institutional responses, which is an alarming trend in any democracy,” Parra warned.
Calling for the preservation of Urdu, he asserted that the language is not merely a medium of communication but an “embodiment of our shared heritage, administrative continuity, and cultural essence that binds every region of J&K together.” [KNT]
