Make Punjabi The Official Language Of Chandigarh: Badal

[SikhWorldTv]

http://gpunjabtv.com...sview.php?id=71

[SikhWorldTv]

The Sikh Times: http://emgonline.co.uk/news.php?news=9143

The Punjab Assembly today unanimously passed two resolutions, seeking second language status for Punjabi language in states having significant Sikh population and restoring employee’s ratio in Union Territory of Chandigarh.

Nine states have been identified Jamu and Kashmir, Himachpardes, Utrakhand, UP, Rajistan, West Bangol, Orrisa, Madhyapardes and Maharashtra.

“This is a historic and welcomed move, Punjabi is a language that needs to be preserved especially in educational institutes. The efforts of the Punjab Assembly are to be applauded” said Jaspal Singh Bains of the EMG Online.

A week after the Assembly passed a resolution seeking second language status for Punjabi in Chandigarh, the House showing rare unanimity again passed two resolutions concerning Punjabi language and ratio of employees from the state in Chandigarh.

Education Minister Upinderjit Kaur moved the resolution seeking second language status for Punjabi language in other states having considerable size of Sikh population.

"Punjabi is an identity of Punjab and its people," the Minister said in the Assembly while expressing resentment over the language not getting due prominence in other states despite having large Sikh population

A delegation of literary people and politicians Tuesday submitted a memorandum to Punjab Governor Shivraj Patil seeking first language status for Punjabi in this union territory (UT).

The delegation, led by state Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, also urged Patil, who is also the Chandigarh administrator, to declare Punjabi as a compulsory subject up to Class 10 in all schools in Chandigarh.

'We have submitted a copy of the resolution that was passed by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha yesterday (Monday). We have demanded to implement Punjabi as the official language in all government offices, boards, corporations and lower courts in Chandigarh,' Punjab Languages and Education Minister Upinderjit Kaur told reporters.

She added: 'We have no problem with the medium of schools but we want to declare Punjabi as a compulsory subject in all schools till Class 10.'

The Punjab assembly Monday unanimously passed a resolution that Punjabi should be accorded first language status in Chandigarh.

The centrally administered city of Chandigarh is the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana.

Members of the state Language Advisory Board had also accompanied the delegation of nearly 30 people to Punjab Raj Bhavan, the official residence of the governor.

'We have also demanded setting up of Punjabi Literary Academy in Chandigarh for the enrichment of Punjabi literature and culture. All important sign-boards and nameplates of government offices should be displayed in Punjabi language,' Kaur said.

Kaur said the legislators would also urge Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to secure second language status for Punjabi in other states where significant number of Punjabi people live.