Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 26: Former president, J&K State Gurdwara Parbandhak Board (SGPB) and chairman Sikh United Front, Sudershan Singh Wazir today cautioned the Government stating that Sikhs would launch indefinite State wide agitation if Punjabi language was not included as compulsory language along with other three as declared by Government recently.
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While addressing a joint press conference of various Sikh organizations of J&K, Wazir condemned the act of the State Government for ignoring the Punjabi language. He also condemned the step motherly treatment meted out to Punjabi language in the State by ignoring a culturally and historically rich language of the state. Wazir reiterated the historical fact that Jammu & Kashmir was a part of the Khalsa Raj for a pretty long time and it was only during Maharaja Ranjeet Singh’s era that it was handed over to Dogra rulers.
Wazir further added that Punjabi was the vide spread spoken language during those times and even during Dogra Raj it occupied a centre stage in the cultural and literary arena of the state and remained mother tongue of the majority. It is ironic that the State Government while issuing a recent order has ignored the Punjabi language and declared Kashmiri, Dogri and Bodhi languages as compulsory at all levels ignoring Punjabi language. This has sent a shock wave among the Punjabi speaking residents of the state in general and Sikhs in particular.
Wazir further said that the attitude of the present day State Government is a clear indication of its approach towards minuscule minority of the State and the time has come that Sikhs will have to unite and take on the Government head on to fight for the rights of the Sikhs and the Punjabi speaking people of the state.
He further warned the Government that in case the recent order is not amended and Punjabi language is not declared compulsory, the Sikhs and various other organizations will launch a state vide agitation. He gave ultimatum up to July 10.
All the Sikh organizations called upon the Sikhs and Punjabi speaking people to unite and fight for their rightful claim.
Darbinder Singh, Ramneek Singh, Raja Singh Fateh Singh all members DGPC Jammu, Surinder Singh Kala, Mohinder Singh, Paramjeet Singh, Laxman Singh Gill, Gajan Singh and others were also present.
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