Kashmiri, Dogri, Hindi as J-K’s official languages: LS nod to Bill

Aditi Tandon

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Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 22

The Lok Sabha Tuesday night passed The Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill, 2020, to include Kashmiri, Hindi and Dogri as the official languages of the UT apart from the existing Urdu and English.

Before the Bill’s passage, the government said provisions had been made in the legislation to promote Punjabi language spoken by 1.78 pc of the population of JK. Several Punjab MPs cutting across party lines had sought that Punjabi be included as an official language in JK.

MoS G Kishan Reddy piloting the Bill said UT’s Lt Governor had recommended that the majority of JK’s population wanted the inclusion of Kashmiri, Dogri and Hindi among official languages.

Reddy said more than half (53.26 pc) the population of JK speaks Kashmiri, 20.64 pc speaks Dogri, 2.73 speaks Hindi while “only 0.16 pc speaks Urdu”.

“These are Census figures. Even 70 years after being the official language of JK, Urdu is spoken by just 0.16 pc people of JK. But Urdu will continue as the official language of JK along with English and three more will be added,” the minister said after National Conference MP Hasnain Masoodi questioned Lok Sabha’s legislative competence over the Bill which is pending for scrutiny before a constitution bench of the apex court.

Masoodi also asked the government if any other state had more than two official languages, to which the minister said, “Yes even a UT as small as Puducherry has five official languages including Telegu, Tamil and French.”

The NC leader demanded the revocation of Abrogation of Article 370 in JK saying, “We want distance between people to end and the August 5, 2019 decision on Article 370 to be revoked. But you continue to treat us differently. Also if such few people speak Urdu in JK, why have Urdu as an official language at all?”

On BJP’s behalf, minister and Udhampur MP Jitendra Singh attacked Masoodi for “exposing himself” and said, “People who get elected on 10 pc of all votes want to maintain their dynastic hegemony in JK. Today you have exposed yourself by saying that you do not want official status for Kashmiri language. It’s also surprising that a former judge like you should undermine the August 5 law which Parliament, the supreme democratic institution, passed.”

Jitendra Singh also asked the NC what its definition of self-rule was.

“Self-rule is the empowerment of masses? But your party boycotted panchayat elections in JK because self-rule for you is the rule for self, the rule of dynasty,” said Singh.

The Bill was passed by voice vote with the opposition absent after boycott of proceedings.

BJD’s Pinaki Mishra raises Punjabi

BJD member Pinaki Mishra raised the issue of Punjabi not being given official status in JK saying, “Since our opposition MPs are absent, someone should make a query on their behalf.”