People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader and Pulwama MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Para sharply criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday for framing Urdu as a communal issue, calling it a “dangerous and disgraceful new low” in Jammu and Kashmir’s political discourse. His remarks follow the BJP’s support for a Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) decision to stay a government order mandating Urdu proficiency for Naib Tehsildar applicants.

In a post on X, Para emphasized Urdu’s integral role in J&K’s identity, stating, “Urdu is not a symbol of any religion but the throbbing pulse of Jammu & Kashmir’s identity, echoing 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 argued that Urdu embodies the region’s shared heritage and administrative continuity, binding its diverse regions together.

Para also expressed alarm at the CAT’s ruling, suggesting it reflects judicial susceptibility to political pressure. “BJP’s protests appear to be shaping institutional responses, which is an alarming trend in any democracy,” he said, warning that undermining Urdu threatens J&K’s cultural essence. The CAT order, issued on July 14, allows candidates with knowledge of any of J&K’s five official languages—Hindi, Kashmiri, Dogri, English, or Urdu—to apply, overturning the Urdu-only mandate.

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The controversy stems from a June 9 notification by the J&K Services Selection Board requiring Urdu proficiency for 75 Naib Tehsildar posts, prompting BJP protests alleging discrimination against Jammu’s youth.

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