SGPC president writes to J&K CM

Gagan K Teja

Tribune News Service

Patiala, June 25 

Demanding that Punjabi language should be made compulsory with other regional languages in schools by the Jammu and Kashmir Government, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Kirpal Singh Badungar has written a letter to J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti urging her to reconsider the decision of teaching only Kashmiri, Dogri and Bodhi in government and private schools.

Notably, the Jammu & Kashmir Government had issued an order on June 19, according to which Kashmiri, Dogri and Bodhi subjects would be made compulsory up to higher secondary level from the next academic session.

In his letter, Badungar said Punjabi was the second most spoken language of J&K and there were a large number of Punjabis living in the state. So, the government should make Punjabi compulsory in the schools along with other regional languages as a mark of respect towards Punjabi population.

He said, “Maharaja Ranjit Singh had ruled Jammu for years and, therefore, Punjabi is a part of their day-to-day lives. So, the government should ensure that their religious sentiments are respected.”

“Punjabi was the only language which was being taught in J&K schools for long. Earlier, Punjabi was a compulsory subject up to Class X but later students were given an option to choose Hindi, Urdu or Punjabi language as one of the optional subjects in board exams. Now, slowly and gradually they are completely doing away with the language in the schools which is unacceptable,” he added.

He further said it was the duty of the SGPC to take up the issues of Sikh community as and when required and, therefore, the SGPC would be further pursuing this case with the Jammu & Kashmir Government.