Union Cabinet has approved the introduction of 5 languages Kashmiri, Dogri, Hindi, Urdu and English as the official languages in Jammu and Kashmir.
Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said the Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill, 2020, “This has been done on the demand of people of Jammu and Kashmir” said Prakash Javadekar.
The bill will be introduced in the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament.
Jitendra Singh Union Minister and Udhampur MP said the Modi government had accepted the long-pending demand of the region for the inclusion of Dogri, Hindi and Kashmiri as official languages in J&K.
He added “I want to thank Prime Minister Modi for giving his consent for the inclusion of Dogri, Hindi and Kashmiri in addition to the other two existing languages as official languages for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. It is not only a fulfilment of a long-pending public demand of the region but also in keeping with the spirit of equality which was ushered after August 5, 2019,”
The decision is also welcomed by National Conference’s Jammu president Devender Singh Rana expressed happiness over the inclusion of the Dogri, he said “I am very happy that my mother tongue Dogri is being included as an official language along with English, Urdu, Kashmiri and Hindi in Jammu and Kashmir. Dogri reflects the Dogra culture and heritage, and so it should be put at a premium pedestal along with other languages of J&K.
Significantly, Dogri language is originally spoken in Jammu division. In 2001, the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee included Dogri language in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution. However, this language was not the official language of Jammu and Kashmir. Dogri language is mainly spoken in 10 districts of Jammu division. The proposal of Dogri to be the official language of the Central Government will also convey the message of equality and development to the people of Jammu division in the state.
It is to be noted that almost 50 lakhs of people in Jammu and Kashmir speak Dogri language.
