Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 22: The Dalit OBC Minority (DOM) organised a protest today at Ambedkar Chowk, Jammu to show discontentment over exclusion of Punjabi and Gojri from the list of Official Languages of Jammu and Kashmir.
In this connection, a memorandum was also submitted to Ram Nath Kovind, President of India; PM Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor J&K UT, requesting them to kindly include Punjabi and Gojri in official languages list.
Protesting organizations under the banner of DOM included Jammu Muslim Front, All J&K Christian, Sabha, All J&K OBC Mahasabha, J&K United Peace Movement, Majdoor Dastkar Union, J&K Gujjar Bakarwal Conference, Desh Bhagat Yadgar Committee Jammu, Panthank Morcha, Sikh Intellectuals Circle, J&K, Panthank Taalmail Sangthan & All India Confederation of SC/ST/OBC Organisations J&K.
RK Kalsotra, State President Confederation and Incharge of DOM, said that in times of pandemic, the Government was forcing them to take to streets. The latest issue of inclusion of languages in the J&K Official Languages list has sparked controversy as it has not included Punjabi and Gojri which are widely used by people of Jammu and Kashmir, he added.
Kalsotra said that the cabinet has already given a nod to the Official Languages Bill and is set to be presented on 23rd Sept in the Parliament. He announced to continue the protest until and unless these two languages are officially recognised.
S kulwant Singh, while addressing the gathering, expressed that Punjabi is the thousands of centuries old language and more than 80 persent people speak and understand it in J&K UT. Hence it is injustice to exclude the language from official languages. Punjabi and Gojri be included as official languages in J&KUT, he added.
Gujjar leader Sobat Chaudhary said that it was injustice with majority of J&K. He appealed to PM and HM of India to include Gojri and Punjabi as official languages.
S Ravinder Singh said that if Punjabi and Gojri are not included as official languages, they shall intensify the protests and will fight till last.
Others, who spoke on the occasion, included Asharaf Ali, Comrade S Sukhdev Singh, Ashu Peter Mattoo, S Narinder Singh Khalsa and many more.
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