Karnataka govt mandates Urdu proficiency for Anganwadi teachers in two districts

Siddaramaiah faces backlash over Urdu requirement for Anganwadi teacher positions

In a controversial move, the Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka government has mandated proficiency in Urdu for candidates applying for Anganwadi teacher positions in Mudigere and Chikkamagaluru districts. This decision has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition BJP, which has accused the Congress government of engaging in “Muslim appeasement.”

Former BJP MP Nalinkumar Kateel condemned the notification, stating, “Requiring knowledge of Urdu to secure an Anganwadi teacher job is unacceptable. This is yet another attempt by Congress to appease the Muslim community while simultaneously restricting job opportunities for others. It’s a dangerous political strategy.”

The Mudigere Education Department has expressed concerns regarding the notification. In a letter to the Deputy Director, the department highlighted the demographic diversity of the area, noting that Muslims make up 31.94% of the local population. According to the government directive, areas with minority communities exceeding 25% should prioritize hiring workers proficient in the minority language, alongside Kannada. Critics argue that this emphasis on Urdu undermines the significance of Kannada, the state’s official language.

Furthermore, the letter urged that Kannada proficiency be made a mandatory qualification and recommended that the application process be conducted in Kannada to address potential backlash from pro-Kannada groups. This requirement has raised alarms among citizens who fear that it further marginalizes Kannada-speaking individuals in their own state.

The BJP maintains that such policies are politically motivated and detrimental to the cultural fabric of Karnataka. As tensions rise, the Congress government must navigate the complexities of regional identity and language while ensuring equitable job opportunities for all communities.

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