Urdu mandatory for Anganwadi teachers: BJP slams Congress-led Karnataka govt

The Karnataka government's recent decision to mandate Urdu proficiency for Anganwadi teacher candidates in Mudigere and Chikkamagalur districts has sparked political controversy, with the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing the ruling Congress of "Muslim appeasement."

Former BJP state president and MP Nalinkumar Kateel condemned the move, calling it a "dangerous political strategy" designed to cater to a specific community.

"The announcement of the Congress government of the state that to get a job as an anganwadi teacher, one should know Urdu language is condemnable. The backdoor attempt to appease the Muslim community in the recruitment of Anganwadi teachers and allow only them to get jobs is once again highlighting the insidious policy of the Congress," he said in a post on X.


BJP took to social media, with criticism directed at Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Minister of Women and Child Welfare, Laxmi Hebbalkar.

"Imposing Urdu in Kannada Nadu... An official order has been issued by the Department of Women and Child Welfare to make Urdu compulsory for the appointment of Anganwadi teachers in Mudigere of Chikmagalur district. CM Siddaramaiah and Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar are aware. Mudigere is in Karnataka, Kannada is the official language in Karnataka, why is Urdu mandatory?" the Karnataka BJP said in a post on X.

The post further called for answers from the government.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Prasad Gowda defended his party saying that there's no such pressure on anyone to speak in a particular language.

"We are not pressuring anyone to speak in a particular language. If one knows Kannada, they can speak in Kannada," he told TimesNow.