The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday strongly condemned the BJP-led Central Government’s decision to make Sanskrit compulsory and Punjabi an optional subject in Army schools across Punjab, stating that the move reflects the Centre’s continued attempts to undermine Punjab’s identity, language and cultural roots.
AAP Punjab State Media Incharge Baltej Pannu said Punjabis will never tolerate any effort to diminish the status of their mother tongue on the soil of Punjab. Addressing the issue, AAP Punjab State Media In-charge Baltej Pannu stated, “The BJP-led Central Government’s decision to make Sanskrit compulsory and Punjabi optional in Army schools across Punjab is yet another reflection of its anti-Punjab mindset.
The BJP has consistently tried to undermine Punjab’s rights and identity, but the people of Punjab will never tolerate such attempts.” The AAP Punjab Media In-charge asserted that the BJP’s anti-Punjab decisions have repeatedly triggered public anger and controversy.
“Whether it was the attempt to keep Chandigarh, built after the displacement of Punjab’s villages, completely under the Centre’s control, the move to bring Panjab University under Haryana’s fold, or the effort to hand over the management of BBMB to the Centre, the BJP has consistently tried to weaken Punjab at every step.
Now, by diminishing the importance of Punjabi language in Army schools, the Centre has once again exposed its narrow and anti-Punjab mindset,” said Baltej Pannu. Clarifying AAP’s stand, Baltej Pannu said, “We are not opposed to any language, but relegating Punjabi to a secondary status on the soil of Punjab is completely unacceptable.
We are people who take immense pride in our mother tongue, and we are prepared to stand firm and fight at every level to protect its dignity and honour. This decision is not just an act of linguistic discrimination, but a deeper conspiracy to disconnect Punjab from its cultural roots.”
Baltej Pannu warned that the Central Government must immediately revoke what he termed an anti-people and anti-Punjab decision. “Punjabis have always stood united against any insult to their mother tongue and will continue to strongly oppose such authoritarian policies of the Centre in the future as well,” he added.