Steps of AAP Government in Delhi would make Punjabi language, culture extinct – G.K.
Manjit Singh G.K. the President of Shiromani Akali Dal in Delhi and also President of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee today raised serious aspersions on functioning of Delhi government for their role in undermining importance of Punjabi language, its literature culture and heritage.Comparing the efforts made by the Punjab government in preservation and promotion of Punjabi language and culture G.K. said Aam admi party (AAP) is making all efforts to make this language and culture extinct.
Manjit Singh G.K. said that the Chief Minister of Punjab Parkash Singh Badal has laid provisions of Rs. 800 crore in the state finances on preservation and development of Punjabi language, culture and literature, whereas the Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal has decreased the annual budget of Punjabi Academy to Rs. 12 crore to Rs. 18 crore. G.K. said that a program organised by Punjabi Academy in Talkatora lawn few days ago in which Ustaad Nelay Khan committed serious mistakes while singing shaloks of Bhagat Farid Ji from Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and clapped while signing verses was totally against the Sikh Rehat maryada. It is sacrilegious and attack on Sikhs panth said G.K.
DSGMC President addressing press said that Delhi government has not increased strength of Punjabi teachers in the state government run government schools but have decreased it. G.K. also informed that after Dr. Rawel Singh the secretary of the Punjabi Academy left charge on 29 January 2014, the Academy is functioning without secretary and it has badly affected its working and the number of teachers in government schools has been slashed from 728 to 640. He said that the proposal of increasing salary of Punjabi teachers from Rs. 4500 to Rs. 8000 is kept pending and AAP government is responsible for exploitation of the teachers.
G.K. also raised questions on stop on publication of Punjabi magazine Samdarshi by the Academy and discontinuing distribution of Punjabi literature.DSGMC President said that Kejriwal government has ignored important names in the field of Punjabi literature and culture as members of the governing body of the Punjabi Academy but had nominated activists of AAP in the governing body. He informed the press that important names form Punjabi literature such as Amrita Pritam, Harbhajan Singh, Kartar Singh Duggal, Balwant Gargi, Ajeet kaur, Prabhjot Kaur, S.S. Noor and Singh Bandhu has worked on the governing body of the Punjabi Academy, whereas the AAP government has ignored all prominent names.
G.K. raised questions on appointment of Jarnail Singh Tilak Nagar MLA of AAP as vice chairman of Punjabi Academy asking what qualification he has to figure on the Punjabi Academy. He raised question that persons like Dr. Mahip Singh, Dr. Harmit Singh and Rajkumari Anita Singh had remained vice chairpersons. He said by appointing Jarnail Singh Kejriwal government has turned Punjabi Academy as Academy of Tilak Nagar, whereas the institutions in the past was known worldwide. He also questioned the logic of shifting Academy office in Motia Khan where Rs. 2.5 lakh annual rent was given to Deihi Haat, Janakpuri where Rs. 15 lakh annual rent is to be given.
Punjabi must be taught in Delhi Schools
I think majority of the people living in New Delhi have Punjabi as their mother-tongue. Old Delhi doesn’t have too many Punjabi speakers.Punjabi should be studied by these people to keep their identity and culture. Punjabi is world’s 10th most-spoken language. In Canada, after English and French,Punjabi is the most-spoken language.In Vancouver and rest of British Columbia, after English, Punjabi is the most-spoken language.In Surrey, about 25% people speak Punjabi.