EARly Times Report
Jammu, Sept 13: A sharp outrage has erupted among the Sikhs and non-Sikh Punjabis residing in J&K after the exclusion of Punjabi language from the “J&K Official Languages Bill”.
Extending their resentment against exclusion of Punjabi language from the official languages of J&K Union Territory hundreds of sikhs under banner of Gurmat learning Circle (Akal Purakh Ki Fauj) Jammu in collaboration with locals Sarpanches, All Gurudwara Parbandhak Committees and Various other sikh organization's held a massive protest at Simbal Morh Jammu. Expressing serious concerns and anger over the step motherly treatment with Punjabi speaking people, they shouted slogans in support of their demand. They demanded that along with Kashmiri and Dogri, Punjabi should also be considered as official language in J&K UT. The protest was led by led by Harvinder Singh, Tejinder Singh, Ajmeet Singh, Garib Das Ex Tehsildar, Manjeet Singh, Harbans Singh, Ajitpal Singh, Harnam Singh, Harpreet Kour Iqbal kour, Surjeet Singh.
Harvinder Singh expressed his serious concerns over non inclusion of Punjabi in official languages of Jammu and Kashmir since the said language is widely spoken all over the world. “This is a deep rooted conspiracy to eliminate the Punjabi culture from J&K. A large section in the UT speaks Punjabi and as a subject is also being taught in different Colleges, Universities and other educational institutions,” Harvinder said. Harvinder appealed to the people to come together on a single platform and ask the Government to include Punjabi in official languages of UT.
Ajmeet Singh stated that the issues related to the Sikh community have been continuously ignored by every successive government. He claimed that around 5 lakh Sikhs and various other communities from different religions living in J&K recognise themselves with Punjabi language and they have a strong religious, spiritual, social and cultural connect with it. Punjabi under 8th Schedule of the Indian constitution is not only the official language of India, but it is also recognised by countries like Canada, UK, Australia as their second, third or fourth official language. “As per the census of 1941, the chief languages used in the erstwhile J&K state were Kashmiri, Dogri and Punjabi. Also, till 1981, Punjabi was a compulsory subject like Urdu in J&K.
|
