Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 24: The members of Sikh community held a protest demonstration and took out a procession from Gurdwara Baba Fateh Singh Gandhi Nagar to Divisional Commissioner’s Office Rail Head in protest against the denial of due place to Punjabi language in the State of J&K.
The protest was jointly organized by State Gurdwara Prabandhak Board, (SGPB) led by Tralochan Singh Wazir and District Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (DGPC).
The processionists with placards and banners in their hands were demanding introduction of Punjabi language in the school curriculum. Shouting slogans against the step motherly treatment being given to Punjabi in the State, they termed it a part of big conspiracy and said that the same will not be allowed to happen at any cost.
Talking to Excelsior the president of SGPB and Ex MLC, Tralochan Singh Wazir said that Maharaja Ranjit Singh was the creator of J&K State and he handed over the reigns of the State to Maharaja Gulabh Singh. The Punjabi language was introduced in J&K by Maharaja Ranjit Singh and it continued as a dominating language during the Dogra rule also.
He said a survey was conducted in 1948 in which Punjabi came as the second language to be spoken in the State and till 1981 this continued and Punjabi was the part of school curriculum. After that a conspiracy was launched to break it, he added.
Wazir said Hindus, Muslims, Sikh and even Gujjars speak Punjabi language and its dialect is found in Dogri, Gojri and other languages of the State also. This language is spoken by 26 crore people all over the world and it is the 10th language of the world but under a conspiracy it is being eliminated from the State which will not be tolerated.
Wazir said that they have given four days time to Government failing which the second phase of agitation will be launched and the Government will be responsible for all consequences.
Meanwhile, a deputation of Punjabi writers and intellectuals called on Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh and called for introducing Punjabi language in school curriculum on the analogy of other local languages.
Putting -forth the demand for introducing Punjabi language in school curriculum on the analogy of other languages and steps to be taken for promotion and propagation of Punjabi language in the State, the deputationists highlighted the significance of Punjabi language as a large number of people in State speak and read the language.
The Deputy Chief Minister assured that their demands would be given due consideration and appropriate action would be taken in this regards. Dr.Nirmal Singh said that he has already took up the matter of Punjabi language with Chief Minister and soon it will be introduced in the school curriculum on the analogy of other languages.
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