Reintroduce Punjabi as compulsory subject in state schools: Sikhs

Tribune News Service

Jammu, June 24

The J&K Gurdwara Parbandhak Board has condemned the alleged neglect of Punjabi language in the state. It claimed that first it was made an optional subject and then all efforts were made by the successive governments for extinction of Punjabi language.

A handout issued by the board today said the Sikh community of the state demanded immediate restoration of Punjabi as a compulsory subject otherwise the community would be forced to adopt agitational path against the alleged discrimination with Punjabi language in the state.

“Punjabi language has been given the recognition and guarantee under Article 146, Schedule VI of the J&K Constitution. Thus it becomes obligatory on the part of the J&K Government to make all efforts for the promotion of Punjabi language in addition to other regional languages,” a statement said.

The board further said Punjabi language was the only language which was being taught in the schools of J&K since long. It added that 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.

It said this act of the state government had created strong resentment among the Sikh community in J&K. It added that that a memorandum was also submitted to the CM today through Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, against the alleged continuous neglect of Punjabi language in the state. Before submitting the memorandum, a rally was also taken out by the board.