Jammu, Oct 5: A delegation of prominent members of the Sikh community Monday called on National Conference Additional General Secretary and former Minister Ajay Kumar Sadhotra at the party headquarters at Gandhi Nagar, Jammu, and presented a memorandum seeking inclusion of Punjabi language, in Gurmukhi script, among the officially recognised languages of Jammu and Kashmir.
It was organised by Sardar Jatinder Singh Lucky.
The delegation, as per a statement, apprised Sadhotra of the aspirations of the Sikh community regarding preservation and promotion of Punjabi and Gurmukhi, which, they said, formed an important part of the linguistic and cultural heritage of the region.
They urged the National Conference leadership to take up the matter with the appropriate authorities and work towards fulfilment of the long-pending demand.
Sadhotra said the National Conference had always remained committed to respecting the linguistic, cultural and social diversity of Jammu and Kashmir and ensuring that the aspirations of all sections of society were adequately represented.
He said the party’s commitment to Punjabi and Gurmukhi was clearly reflected in its election manifesto. Referring to the specific provisions concerning minorities and regional cultures, he said the National Conference had explicitly committed that it would “advocate for the inclusion of Gurmukhi/Punjabi language to preserve and promote it.” “This is a clear and conscious commitment of the National Conference. We recognise the importance of Punjabi and Gurmukhi as an integral part of the cultural and linguistic heritage of Jammu and Kashmir. Every language carries the history, traditions, literature and collective memory of its people, and no language should be allowed to lose its rightful place,” Sadhotra said.
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