JAMMU, October 15: The All J&K Sikh Sangat’s Punjabi Morcha today expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Jammu and Kashmir Government for giving a written assurance regarding the inclusion of Punjabi as an official language of the Union Territory, terming the development a major victory for the Punjabi-speaking community and all those who stood united for the cause.
Addressing a thanksgiving press conference at the Punjabi Morcha site near Maharaja Hari Singh Statue, Tawi Bridge, Jammu, Taranjit Singh Tony, Sewadar, All J&K Sikh Sangat and Chairman, Gurdwara Rani Talab, Digiana, said the achievement was the result of sustained peaceful struggle, community unity and the collective efforts of thousands of supporters who stood firmly behind the demand.
Tony extended his sincere thanks to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for the government's assurance and commitment to take the matter forward, and expressed special gratitude to Shammi Oberoi, Rajya Sabha MP and National Conference Treasurer, for his intervention and assurance regarding the introduction of the Punjabi Language Bill in the forthcoming Assembly session.
He also thanked Advisor to CM Nasir Aslam Wani for his special efforts in facilitating dialogue and helping move the matter towards a positive resolution.
Tony acknowledged the role of Rajya Sabha MP Gurwinder Singh Oberoi in facilitating the consultation process that enabled the Sikh Sangat delegation to present its concerns before the government.
“Punjabi is not merely a language; it is our mother tongue, our heritage and an inseparable part of Jammu and Kashmir’s cultural identity. This achievement belongs to every person who stood with us, supported our cause and believed that Punjabi deserves its rightful place among the official languages of J&K,” Tony said.
He paid special tribute to the delegation led by former minister Manjit Singh, along with all delegation members who participated in the Srinagar consultations and represented the aspirations of the community with dignity and determination. Tony expressed profound gratitude to the Sikh Sangat, gurdwara management committees, religious institutions, youth organisations, educational bodies, social organisations, community leaders, media organisations and individual supporters who extended solidarity throughout the Morcha.
He also acknowledged the support received from Jat organisations, Labana Samaj, Sikh youth bodies, representatives of different communities, political leaders and organisations & Media persons from Jammu, Kashmir, Punjab and beyond and also Mandir & Masjid Committees along site of Morcha venue. He said the movement had demonstrated that the cause of Punjabi was not confined to any single organisation or community, but concerned the preservation of Jammu and Kashmir’s linguistic and cultural heritage.
“The Morcha remained peaceful, democratic and constitutional throughout. We are grateful to every organiser, volunteer, supporter and well-wisher who contributed to this collective effort. Our unity gave strength to our voice, and this written assurance marks an important milestone in our struggle,” Tony added. Following the written assurance and successful discussions, the Punjabi Morcha has decided to call off its agitation, expressing hope that the government will honour its commitment by bringing the Bill before the Legislature and ensuring Punjabi receives official-language recognition. Taking the campaign forward, Tony made a special appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in the matter of Punjabi’s inclusion in the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) curriculum and restore the language where it was previously available but subsequently removed.
He urged the Prime Minister, the Union Education Ministry and the CBSE authorities to ensure that Punjabi-speaking students have adequate opportunities to study their mother tongue in schools. “While we welcome the positive assurance from the Jammu and Kashmir Government, our larger responsibility is to protect and promote Punjabi for future generations.
We appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure that Punjabi receives due recognition in the school education system and is restored in the CBSE curriculum wherever it was discontinued. Children must not be deprived of the opportunity to learn their mother tongue,” Tony said.
He emphasised that the preservation of a language requires more than official recognition; it also requires educational opportunities, institutional support and a commitment to passing the language on to younger generations. Tony concluded by thanking everyone who contributed to the Morcha and appealed to the government to translate its written assurance into concrete legislative action.
“The Morcha may be called off following the government's assurance, but our commitment to Punjabi language, culture and heritage will continue. We look forward to the fulfilment of this commitment and will continue to work constructively for the promotion of Punjabi across Jammu and Kashmir and India,” he said.
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