![Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari flanked by senior party leaders addressing workers in Jammu on Tuesday. Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari flanked by senior party leaders addressing workers in Jammu on Tuesday.](https://cdndailyexcelsior.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/page3-2-20-696x260.jpg)
*Seeks representation for Sikhs in L
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 28: Apni Party president, Altaf Bukhari today said that recognizing Punjabi language as one of official languages in Jammu and Kashmir is the top agenda of his Party.
“It is on our agenda to recognize Punjabi language as one of the official languages in Jammu and Kashmir. The language has a huge contribution and it is spoken by people from all the communities in most regions of Jammu and Kashmir,” said Bukhari while speaking at a joining program at Gandhi Nagar, Jammu today.
The program was organized by women wing of the party, Provincial president, Jammu, Pavneet Kour.
In presence of party president, prominent Sikh Community social activist Inderpal Singh with his supporters Surinder Singh, Ranjit Singh, Bila Pardan, Paramjit Singh, Bachan Kumar, Ajit Singh and others joined the Apni Party. They were welcomed into the party fold by Bukhari.
Speaking on the occasion, Bukhari said that the issues of the Sikh community will be resolved by the Party and no one will be left to suffer with no representation. Referring to the demand of recognizing Punjabi language as official languages, he assured the new entrants and other leaders of Sikh community that it is in their top priority to recognize Punjabi language as one of the official languages in Jammu and Kashmir.
He recalled the contribution of the language in Jammu and Kashmir in literature, and culture having historical traces. He also appealed to the Govt to give representation to the Sikh Community members from each region in the Legislative Assembly.
“Apni Party is committed to work for all the communities for their social, economic, and political upliftment by providing them equal representation,” he said.
He appealed to the parents that they shall teach their children Punjabi language so that it can be revived as per the wishes of the community, beside other languages.
Bukhari said UT is suffering due to power cuts. There is a need to purchase more electricity for Jammu and Kashmir regions to meet the growing demand in the wake of the harsh winter season.
He stated that the Apni Party is committed to continue the struggle for statehood and sought holding of Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
Senior party leaders Ghulam Hassan Mir, Usman Majeed, Vijay Bakaya, Manjit Singh, , Faqir Nath, Prem Lal, Shafi Sheikh, Dr Rohit Gupta, Ajaz Kazmi, Abhay Bakaya and others were also present on the occasion.