Jammu, July 27: Apni Party provincial president Jammu women wing Pavneet Kour has urged the J&K government to recognize the Punjabi language as one of the official languages in the “erstwhile State”.
“The government should not ignore the long pending demand of Punjabi-speaking people who belong to different communities and live across Jammu and Kashmir. Their work and contribution to J&K should be recognized by acknowledging the Punjabi language as one of the official languages of Jammu and Kashmir besides English and Urdu,” said Pavneet Kour while speaking at a party meeting at village Chohala in RS Pura. The meeting was organized by District President Jammu Rural -B, Adv Harpreet Singh.
During the meeting, she also announced Ms Ayodhiya Devi as Block President of the Women Wing in RS Pura. The appointment was made on the recommendation of District President Jammu Rural -B; Adv Harpreet Singh, a party statement issued here said. Both Pavneet Kour and Harpreet Singh congratulated Ayodhiya Devi on her appointment.
In her speech, Pavneet Kour hoped that Devi will work with dedication for the welfare and upliftment of the women in the border town of RS Pura and its villages as their representative.
Referring to the Punjabi-speaking people, she said the government should not delay the growing demand of the Jammu region, and parts of Kashmir valley where Punjab is spoken by Sikhs, Hindus, and Muslims as well.
“The language is not limited to a community, but it represents a cultural value for decades. This language was also an official language but that was not continued thereafter. Therefore, the historic importance, its literature, art – culture and other things should be protected and promoted by the J&K government with the reorganization of the Punjabi language as official one,” she said.
Earlier, District President Jammu Rural – B, Harpreet Singh highlighted the plight of the RS Pura’s people who face underdevelopment in the town, as well as in villages. “The works which were projected before the authorities remained unaddressed, and the bunkers in border villages still face negligence from the concerned departments. These bunkers have become alleged hubs for drug addicts whereas many bunkers are filled with dirt and ground water/rainwater making them useless,” he said.
