Farooq blames Muslims for the plight of Urdu language

Patna, Feb 20 (PTI) Union Minister Farooq Abdullah todaysaid Muslims were responsible for the plight of Urdu languagein the country as they did not promote it.

"Muslims themselves are to blame for the sorry status ofUrdu language. You don''t use the language in your education,vocation and jobs," the minister for New and Renewable Energytold an Urdu conference here.

He said, "Majority of Muslims also do not read Urdunewspapers although it is a fact that Urdu press lacksfinancial incentives in terms of government advertisement."

Abdullah, however, promised that he and over forty otherMuslim MPs will raise the plight of Urdu language inParliament and seek positive measures from the government.

Referring to the status of second language being enjoyedby Urdu in some states, the union minister alleged that thestatus was bestowed on the language for vote-bank politics byparties in power. They did not take any other measure topromote the language in their respective states.

The second language status for Urdu had made nodifference to the language or the people speaking it, he said.

Calling for unity among Muslims, Abdullah said thepeople of the community should fight for their rights, butshould not indulge in unlawful means in their crusade.