Srinagar, June 24: Displaying cultural pride, Syed Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, the newly elected Member of Parliament from Srinagar Lok Sabha Constituency, chose to take his oath in Kashmiri on Monday.
Representing the National Conference, Ruhullah won in the recent elections by defeating rivals Waheed Para of PDP and Ashraf Mir of JKAP.
His choice to swear in Kashmiri points out the importance of regional languages in national discussions, reported Srinagar based news agency Kashmir Dot Com.
The oath ceremony showed India’s diverse linguistic landscape, with members from different states opting to speak in languages that reflect their cultural heritage.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spoke in Hindi, while Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan surprised his colleagues by reciting his oath in Sanskrit, an ancient Indian language.
This decision has resonated strongly with the people of Kashmir on social media, who commend Ruhullah for honoring his native language during the inaugural session of the 17th Lok Sabha.