Urdu made mandatory for Anganwadi teachers in Karnataka, BJP voices strong criticism

The Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka government has mandated proficiency in Urdu for candidates applying for Anganwadi teachers positions in Mudigere and Chikkamagaluru districts. This move has sparked backlash from the opposition BJP which has accused the Congress government stating that they are indulging in "Muslim appeasement".

Former BJP MP Nalinkumar Kateel expressed strong disapproval of the requirement, stating, “The announcement that one must know Urdu to get an Anganwadi teacher job is unacceptable. This is yet another attempt by the Congress to appease the Muslim community and restrict job opportunities. It’s a dangerous political strategy.”

It started with an official order issued by the Department of Women and Child Welfare, which mandates that applicants in those regions must be conversant in Urdu. About this development, the BJP took to social media platform X: "The Karnataka government is imposing Urdu in Kannada-speaking regions. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar must explain why Urdu is being prioritised over Kannada, the state's official language."

Meanwhile, the Mudigere Education Department has raised alarms in the wake of this criticism that has risen. In a letter to the Deputy Director, the department further brought into perspective the fact that the local population is diverse, with muslims making up 31.94% of the community. According to the government's notification, in areas where minority communities exceed 25% of the population, hiring workers proficient in the minority language, alongside Kannada, is necessary. However, the focus on Urdu has been perceived as marginalising Kannada-speaking candidates.

To address these concerns, the letter advised that proficiency in Kannada be made a mandatory qualification for applicants. Additionally, it suggested that the job application process be conducted in Kannada to avoid potential backlash from pro-Kannada groups.

Over the years, the language requirement still stirs debates and brings out aspects of language as well as identity within Karnataka.

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