Srinagar, October 7, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) on Wednesday extended its support to a protest by Punjabi-speaking people in Jammu over their demand for greater recognition and promotion of the Punjabi language in Jammu and Kashmir.
The committee alleged that the government continues to adopt a “step-motherly” approach towards Punjabi-speaking people living in the Union Territory.
In a statement, APSCC chairman Jagmohan Singh Raina said Punjabi is a rich language that has contributed to the development of several languages spoken across the country. He said the community had expected Punjabi to be introduced at the university level, but alleged that the language was instead removed from the syllabus in schools and colleges across J&K.
“Time and again we have been raising the neglect of the Punjabi language. We met the people at the helm in this regard with the latest being the meeting with the present Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. Despite these meetings and submission of memoranda no action has been taken to promote the Punjabi language,” Raina said.
He alleged that there were attempts by some people to remove Punjabi from the region’s linguistic landscape and warned that any such move would face strong opposition.
Raina called for Punjabi to be given its due status in society and urged the government to take corrective measures.
“Before the abrogation of Article 370 Punjabi language was being taught in schools and colleges. The scenario changed as soon as there was abrogation of Article 370. It is high time that the government rectifies its wrong and takes the corrective action,” he said.
The APSCC said it would continue to raise concerns over what it described as the neglect of Punjabi and support efforts aimed at safeguarding the language’s educational and social status in Jammu and Kashmir.
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