APSCC protest in support of restoration of Punjabi language in J&K
09/10/2026
Srinagar, October 09 (KIP)-Sikhs belonging to the different shades of life carried out a protest in support of the restoration of Punjabi language in Jammu & Kashmir. Leaders, activists and other people belonging to organisations like All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee, Punjabi Sahit Sabha, members of Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee , Akali Dal and others participated in the peaceful demonstration at Gurdwara Shaheed Bunga Sahib at Bagat Barzulla, Srinagar. Many leaders including Jagmohan Singh Raina, Ajeet Singh Mastana, Dara Singh, D.P Singh, Dr. Rekhi, Mangat Singh Jugnu led the protesters and spoke on the occassion.
The protesters raised slogans in support of their demands and urgied the government to take concrete measures to safeguard the linguistic, cultural and educational rights of the Sikh community. They stressed that Punjabi is an integral part of the region’s rich cultural heritage and has been spoken and cherished by generations of people in Jammu and Kashmir.
The protesters expressed concern over the neglect of Punjabi language and called upon the authorities to take immediate steps to ensure its promotion and preservation. They emphasized that the language holds deep historical, religious and cultural significance for the Sikh community and deserves due recognition and institutional support.
The protesters demanded that Punjabi be restored to its rightful position in the educational and administrative framework and called for effective measures to promote its teaching in schools and other educational institutions. The protesters also urged the government to protect the linguistic identity of the Sikh community and ensure that future generations remain connected with their mother tongue.
The participants maintained that the preservation of regional languages is essential for protecting Jammu and Kashmir’s pluralistic identity and centuries-old tradition of communal harmony. They said that every language deserves equal respect and that Punjabi should not be allowed to lose its place in the region’s cultural and educational landscape.
The protesters appealed to the government to initiate a meaningful dialogue with community representatives to address their concerns. The protest concluded with a renewed call for the protection, promotion and restoration of Punjabi language in Jammu and Kashmir.