Srinagar, Jul 13 (KNS): All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) has conveyed its thanks and gratitude to chief minister Mehbooba Mufti and Minister for Education Syed Mohammad Atlaf Bukhari for passing directions to the Department of Education to introduce Punjabi language as a compulsory subject in the higher classes in Jammu & Kashmir.
In a statement issued to KNS, APSCC Chairman Jagmohan Singh Raina said that the step would go a long way in restoring the glory of the Punjabi language in the state. He said it is heartening that the state government has listened to its conscience and ordered for teaching Punjabi as one of the compulsory subjects in the educational institutions of the state.
“Since Punjabi language is the oldest language of the state it needed to given a boost by the people at helm and the directions issued by the government in this regard would act as a morale booster for the language and also to the people who are attached to it in many ways. We thank the chief minister and the minister for education for taking a timely step in this regard,” said Raina.
The APSCC chairman said that the state government has paid heed to the demands made by the members of Sikh community in this regard both in Kashmir and Jammu divisions.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelHe said that Punjabi besides being popular among the Sikhs is also popular among the Muslims and Hindus living in India and Pakistan.
“Language does not belong to any community or religion but it belongs to the people who speak, read and write the same irrespective of their religious affiliation. The Jammu and Kashmir constitution gives due recognition to all the regional languages and it is the duty of the state government to make the facilities available in this regard. It should take all the steps so that Punjabi is taught as a compulsory subject in the educational institutions of the state at the higher level,” said Raina.
The APSCC chairman also conveyed his gratitude to all the Gurdwara Prabhandhak Committees of the state especially to the GPCs of Srinagar,Pulwama, Budgam and Jammu for making a vociferous demand for making Punjabi as a compulsory subject in the educational institutions of Jammu & Kashmir. He also conveyed his gratitude to Sikh Students Federation, Punjabi Sahitya Sabha, Lekhak Sabha Jammu and all the other people for their unflinching support in this regard. (KNS)