Controversy in the making: Centre asks Urdu writers not to write anti-national content

Aligarh: Amid ongoing nationalism debate, the Centre has reportedly asked the Urdu writers to refrain from writing highly inflammatory anti-national content.

According to a ToI report, the Centre has issued a new circular informing writers affiliated with the National Council for Promotion of Urdu (NCPUL) advising them not to produce content ''against national interest" or that which creates hatred among communities.

As per the report, the NCPUL website now features a declaration form that the authors are required to sign.

 "The contents of the book, periodical, manuscript, magazine and project do not have any material which is against the national interest or which may create any sort of hatred amongst the different sections of the society," the declaration in the form reads.

The circular from the Centre is expected to trigger a fresh controversy amid questions why only Urdu writers have been asked to comply with the order.

Since these conditions have been laid out for Urdu writers whose books are acquired by NCPUL - a body which promotes Urdu language under the HRD Mnistry – many writers see the move as a kind of kind of "declaration of loyalty" to the BJP government at the Centre.

However, a section of Urdu writers feel it is quite understandable that the Centre would not entertain any material that is against national interest since NCPUL is a government organisation.