Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 19: Taking serious note of the State Government’s move on teaching Kashmiri language as subject in colleges across Jammu division, Jammu Province People Forum and senior Congress leader Yogesh Sawhney have threatened agitation while National Panthers Students Union held a protest demonstration against step motherly treatment with Dogri.
JPPF, an amalgam of more than 50 social, commercial and other organizations, convened a meeting under the chairmanship of its president Pavitar Singh (Retd District and Session Judge) against the recent controversial order whereby State Government has converted 49 posts of Associate Professors of other languages to Associate Professors of Kashmiri language for posting them in the degree colleges of Jammu province.
The meeting with one voice rejected the decision of imposing Kashmiri language on Jammu province, as it is against the cultural ethics and inspirations of people of Jammu province. Alleging gross injustice with other languages, especially Dogri language, it was noted with concern that State Government could not do justice with Dogri language as there is no Dogri lecturer in almost half of the degree colleges in Jammu province. “This conversion of posts to Kashmiri language and posting these Kashmiri teaching lecturers in the colleges of Jammu province is nothing but an attack on the culture of Jammu province,” said JPPF president and asked the State Government to immediately revoke this anti Jammu order, failing to which, he added, an agitation will be launched and the e Government shall be responsible for the same.
JPPF members, who were present in the meeting, included Er M S Katoch, M L Sharma, Prof O P Sharma, Rajesh Thakur, InderJeet Khajuria, R S Jamwal, Balwan Singh, Sunita Sharma, Preeti Chowdhary, Rajinder Gupta, Kamla Sharma, P S Slathia, Surinder Vir, Kuldip Sharma, Nirmal Singh Jamwal and others.
Former Minister and senior Congress leader Yogesh Sawhney has also warned stiff resistance against the State Government’s move and step motherly treatment with Dogri language.
The Congress leader termed the Government move as cultural aggression and attack on Dogra identity. ” For the people of Jammu, Dogri is not mere a language or tool of communication but our identity as well as pride and any attempt of playing with sentiments of Dogras by imposing Kashmiri language on them will be fought tooth and nail,” he said.
Seeking immediate withdrawal of the controversial Government order on creation of 49 posts of Assistant Professors in Kashmiri Language for Jammu colleges, Yogesh Sawhney also lambasted ruling BJP for its complete surrender to the PDP of Kashmir for the lust of power. “Instead of ensuring introduction of Dogri in all schools and colleges across Jammu region, the BJP is facilitating the authorities in imposing Kashmiri on Dogras, which will not be tolerated at any cost,” he warned and added that people would teach a lesson to this party for its sabotage to interests of Jammu.
Yogesh Sawhney also cautioned that through the agenda of Kashmiri Language in Jammu colleges, BJP-PDP Government was working on a deep rooted conspiracy to create a divide on religious and linguistic lines. “We have no objection if this Government felicitates teaching of Kashmiri in colleges and schools across Valley but imposing this language on Dogras and discrimination with Dogri language are ought to be resisted vociferously by Jammu people,” he added and appealed all sections of the people, irrespective of their political affiliation, to unitedly fight against dominance of Kashmir over Jammu.
Yogesh Sawhney announced that if the Government does not withdraw its order on creation of posts for Assistant Professors in Kashmiri Language, a mass agitation will be launched soon for safeguarding the interests of Dogri language and Jammu.
Meanwhile, activists of NPSU held a protest demonstration against purported decision of the State Government to teach Kashmiri language in colleges of the Jammu province. Shouting slogans, the angry protesters demanded immediate cancellation of this controversial order. They also torched an effigy of State Government and blocked road near Jammu University.
The protest was led by NPSU president Virender Singh, who said that this controversial decision is nothing, but an attempt to weaken the roots of the Dogri language and Dogra culture. “Why the Government is not promoting Dogri language, when it is now a part of the 8th schedule of the India Constitution? It seems that the Government is working on an anti- Dogra policy,” he said and added that appointing Kashmiri language Asst Professors in Jammu region, is also an attempt of the Government to give more jobs to the people of Kashmir only while on the other hand, there are no permanent Professors for teaching Dogri language and it is being taught by contractual teachers.
The NPSU leader also questioned the silence of BJP leaders on the issue. He warned the Government not to check the patience of the Jammuties and added that people will show BJP leaders their real place very soon.
“Even after more than 14 years since inclusion of Dogri in 8th Schedule of Indian Constitution, why Dogri subject was not introduced in all colleges across Jammu and why not permanent posts were created for Dogri subject by State Government?” Mr Singh asked and warned massive agitation over the issue.
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