Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 21: Former Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader, Kavinder Gupta asserted that Punjabi language holds special significance in J&K as the same is spoken in the region by a vast majority of people since times immemorial and therefore it deserves inclusion in the list of official languages of the newly carved out Union Territory on its merits.
In a statement issued here, today after meeting number of deputations seeking inclusion of Punjabi language in the proposed Bill of official languages of J&K to be tabled in the current Monsoon Session of the Parliament, senior BJP functionary, Kavinder Gupta assured that he will do everything possible to ascertain that Punjabi language does not face any kind of prejudice. He maintained that he will personally take up the matter with the concerned quarters at the Government level and also at the party level to make sure that Punjabi is given its due share.
He however, countered the stand made by one of the deputations which met him earlier that Punjabi is language of Sikhs only. He made it clear that Punjabi is not spoken by Sikhs alone it is rather preferred language of the people living along the border from Kathua to Poonch, besides West Pakistan refugees and members of the Valmiki Samaj.
He categorically said that connecting Punjabi with Sikhs alone will lead to nothing but sheer injustice with the language as Punjabi is popular among all the religions practiced in the erstwhile State of J&K.
He assured the deputations of a favourable outcome in the matter and sought sometime to sort out things in this regard. Interestingly, he also admitted that he himself is fan of Punjabi language and love to read, write and speak this language whenever he gets a chance.
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