JK News Today
Jammu, October 5: Dr. Satwant Singh Rissam, Chairman of the Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Memorial Trust, J&K, has demanded that the Government of Jammu and Kashmir issue a white paper explaining why Punjabi has not been recognised as an official language of the Union Territory.
Dr Rissam said the exclusion of Punjabi from the list of official languages under the Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Act, 2020, had caused concern among Punjabi-speaking citizens and members of the Sikh community.
He demanded that the proposed white paper clearly outline the reasons for excluding Punjabi, the data and criteria used to make the decision, and details of consultations held with Punjabi-speaking residents, Sikh organisations, teachers, writers and language experts.
Dr Rissam further said that the document should assess the impact of the decision on education, public administration and access to government services. He urged the government to announce a clear timeline for reviewing the decision and amending the law to grant Punjabi official-language status in J&K. “Punjabi is not merely a language; it is an important part of Jammu and Kashmir’s history, identity and cultural heritage. The people deserve transparency, accountability and a clear explanation,” Dr Rissam said.
He appealed to the government to address the issue through a formal, consultative and time-bound process.
