Punjabi writers oppose ‘one language’ move

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 19

Taking on Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement on the advocacy of Hindi as “one nation, one language”, the largest body of Punjabi writershas announced to oppose any such move.

Giving a call to writers to unite against the alleged onslaught of the RSS, Kendri Punjabi Lekhak Sabha said it was time to rise against the design of destroying India’s plurality.

Sushil Dosanj, sabha general secretary, said in such a scenario the only option before the writers writing various languages is to get united and take on the RSS agenda. He said Section 29 of the Constitution ensured right to have separate language, script and culture.

The sabha has also calleda meeting on September 22 to discuss the issue.

Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday said it stood for the diversity of regional languages, including Punjabi (Gurmukhi) as the mother tongue of the people of Punjab, outrightly and unequivocally rejecting the “one nation, one language” move.

The party also condemned the “misconduct” with president of the Kendri Punjabi Lekhak Sabha, Dr Tejwant Mann, on the occasion of Hindi Divas at Languages Department, Patiala. In a statement, Principal Budh Ram, Bibi Sarabjit Kaur Manuke and other leaders said any attempt to impose Hindi at the cost of regional languages would be thwarted.