'Telangana govt will promote Urdu', says advisor Mohammed Ali Shabbir; lays foundation for Ghar-cum-Hajj house complex, aims to safeguard Muslim community’s heritage

HYDERABAD: Advisor to state govt, Mohammed Ali Shabbir, on Monday reiterated the Congress govt's commitment to promoting the Urdu language and preserving the cultural and educational heritage of the Muslim community.

Shabbir was addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone for a five-storey Urdu Ghar-cum-Hajj House complex in Mahabubnagar.

"This Urdu Ghar and Hajj House will be a symbol of culture and community service, blending modern infrastructure with traditional values, reflecting the vision of the Congress govt in the state," he said.

Commenting on the present status of Urdu, he pointed out that the community itself bears some responsibility.

"After SSC, students are opting for Arabic or other languages as their second language in intermediate. Many colleges today don't have even 10 students choosing Urdu as a language. I know about a college where two students opted for Urdu, but the college refused to offer it, saying no other students were willing to take it," he said.