2nd language status to Urdu triggers row

The Jharkhand Government8217;s recent notification declaring Urdu as second language in the state has created a flutter in the political circle.

The Jharkhand Government8217;s recent notification declaring Urdu as second language in the state has created a flutter in the political circle. The Rajya Bhasha Department has brought out the notification on October 16, three days after Chief Minister Madhu Koda declared it on the eve of Eid on October 13.

As per the Bihar Rajya Bhasha Act, Urdu became the second language in 18 districts of Jharkhand after it was carved out of Bihar way back in 2000. Later on, eight other districts were constituted and a fresh notification was required to make Urdu the second language across the state. Following this, the Department had brought out the notification resulting in a controversy.

While the move was welcomed by most ruling party members, several tribal and non-tribal outfits opposed it. 8220;Ours is a tribal state. We will not tolerate the language game being played by politicians,8221; said Dinkar Hembrom, Secretary, Santhal Vikas Parihad. To protest against the move, a state-wide bandh has been called on October 27 by the Jharkhand Dishom Party. 8220;We want tribal languages like Santhali, Ho, Mundari, Kudukh and Khadia to be recognised as official state languages,8221; said party chief Salkhan Murmu.

The Congress, too, is not lagging behind. Party8217;s women8217;s wing chief Pratibha Pandey demanded that Bangla be made the second language of the state. The wing has decided to hold a state-wide dharna on October 24. 8220;We will sit on a fast-unto-death if our demand is not met before November 15,8221; Pandey said.

The BJP, which is the principal opposition party in the state, has also criticised the move. Leader of the Opposition in the state and former Chief Minister Arjun Munda said: 8220;Apart from backing the tribal languages, we have decided to make Bangla the second language. The decision has already been approved by the Cabinet. But the Koda Government not only swept it under the carpet, but also triggered dirty politics over it.8221;

Meanwhile, CPIM8217;s state secretary Gyan Shanker Majumdar has appealed to everyone to exercise restraint. 8220;Nobody should indulge in politics over language,8221; he said.