Punjabi, Pahari, and Gojri to Gain Official Status in Jammu and Kashmir, Says Deputy CM Surinder Chaudhary

Naushera, October 17 (Daily Kiran) : Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Chaudhary addressed the issue of granting official status to the Punjabi language during a review of development projects in Naushera, Jammu and Kashmir. He assured that a bill to recognize Punjabi, Pahari, and Gojri as official languages will be introduced in the upcoming budget session. Chaudhary criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for politicizing the Punjabi language issue and misleading the public.

Chaudhary emphasized that the demand for Punjabi has deep roots and should not be viewed as limited to a single community. He expressed gratitude towards the Sikh community in Naushera and Jammu and Kashmir for their support, noting that they held a press conference to counter accusations against him regarding his stance on the language.

He explained that the significance of Punjabi is intertwined with the country’s secular tradition. While the Sikh community actively studies Punjabi, he believes opportunities should also be available for individuals from other communities to learn and read the language.

The Deputy Chief Minister mentioned that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had tasked MP Shami Oberoi with addressing this issue. During a meeting with Sikh leaders in Srinagar, the government assured that a bill to grant official status to Punjabi alongside Pahari and Gojri would be presented in the next budget session.

Chaudhary questioned BJP leaders, asking why no steps had been taken regarding the Punjabi language over the past 12 years if they truly cared about it. He alleged that during the BJP’s tenure, Punjabi was removed from the CBSE curriculum. He pointed out that a recent ten-day assembly session included 29 BJP MLAs, yet no proposals or bills for the Punjabi language were introduced. He remarked that some BJP leaders now profess to support Punjabi, but their actions tell a different story.

He praised the Abdullah family for their longstanding positive relationship with the Sikh community, asserting that previous National Conference governments have made efforts to represent Sikh interests. Chaudhary challenged the BJP to account for its contributions to the Sikh community.

In closing, he urged the public to present their issues directly to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Dr. Farooq Abdullah, rather than relying on BJP statements. He assured that the government would work to resolve problems within its jurisdiction and provide clear information on matters beyond its control. The government is committed to addressing the public’s concerns and seeks their cooperation in this endeavor.