Asif Rashid
Jammu, Feb 09: The use of Dogri and Kashmiri languages during Question Hour sparked an exchange in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Monday.
During Question Hour, BJP MLA Satish Kumar Sharma, representing the Billawar Assembly constituency, raised a question and used Dogri while asking a supplementary query. Members initially listened, but objections were raised from the treasury benches over the use of the language. Despite the objections, the MLA continued speaking in Dogri.
Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather intervened, stating that the remarks would not be recorded as the reporters did not understand Dogri or Kashmiri. He directed members to use only official languages in the House.
After the MLA completed his question, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah responded, saying that if the member wanted an answer, he should have asked the question in a language the minister could understand, adding that the member had sought attention and received it. The MLA later repeated his question in Hindi.Following Question Hour, during the budget discussion, Pahalgam MLA Altaf Wani spoke in Kashmiri and questioned why Dogri could be used while Kashmiri could not. BJP members objected, asking why there was an issue with Dogri.
Responding, Altaf Wani said there was no objection to Dogri, but the issue was the lack of understanding of the language. He further remarked that there was a broader issue concerning Kashmir.
The Speaker again intervened and reiterated that remarks made in Dogri or Kashmiri would not be included in the official records.
The incident occurred on the seventh day of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly’s budget session, during which the House is discussing the second budget of the present government, presented by the Chief Minister in his capacity as Finance Minister.
