Urdu is an Indian language, says Murli Manohar Joshi

Amid the growing debate over languages both in politics and education, senior BJP leader and former Union Minister for Human Resource Development (HRD), Murli Manohar Joshi, on Thursday (July 2, 2026), asserted that Urdu is an Indian language and did not originate outside the country.

Mr. Joshi also hailed the efforts made during the NDA government led by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, to encourage Indian Muslims to read the Quran in Urdu instead of Arabic.

“Even Bengali, the national language of Bangladesh, originated in the Indian subcontinent,” he added.

Mr. Joshi was addressing a programme organised by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) in participation of Kanchi Shankaracharya Vijayendra Saraswati, who announced the launch of a ‘Sanjhiwalta’ campaign in Punjab to promote Hindu-Sikh unity.

The Shankaracharya also announced formation of a trust to undertake temple renovation and related activities in Punjab stating that Hindus and Sikhs shared a common spiritual heritage.

Also Read | ​English dreams: On language debate and English medium education

Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has been trying to expand its outreach in Punjab amid concerns over alleged religious conversions. The proposals include restoring and maintaining temples, conserving historic places of worship, holding larger religious events and promoting closer ties between Hindus and Sikhs. Sources said the discussions have also covered demographic trends and measures to discourage religious conversions.

VHP president Alok Kumar said what he described as “cultural infiltration” was a long-term challenge. He said the erosion of traditional practices should be addressed through religious and cultural institutions, and not through politics alone.