Sikh Community Protests in Jammu, Demands Punjabi in Schools and Official Statusਜੰਮੂ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਿੱਖ ਭਾਈਚਾਰੇ ਦਾ ਰੋਸ ਪ੍ਰਦਰਸ਼ਨ — ਸਕੂਲਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਅਤੇ ਸਰਕਾਰੀ ਦਰਜੇ ਦੀ ਮੰਗ

Members of the Sikh community in Jammu took out a peaceful protest rally on October 5, demanding that Punjabi be restored and promoted in the education system of Jammu and Kashmir. The demonstration, organised under the banner of the Jammu Punjabi Morcha, called on the Lieutenant Governor's administration to introduce Punjabi into the school curriculum and give the language greater official recognition.

Rally taken out under the Jammu Punjabi Morcha banner

Protesters said children in the Union Territory should have the opportunity to learn Punjabi in schools, and argued that the language holds deep cultural and historical significance for the Sikh community and Punjabi-speaking residents of the region. Surjan Singh, general secretary of the District Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, said the rally was organised to highlight the community's long-pending demand for Punjabi's restoration in schools, and that repeated representations to the administration had so far produced no concrete action.

The protesters stressed that Punjabi is their mother tongue and must be protected through education and official recognition. Community representatives argued that introducing Punjabi in schools would help younger generations stay connected to their language, traditions and literary heritage.

Indefinite dharna enters its fourth day

Separately, the indefinite dharna launched by the Jammu Punjabi Morcha intensified on its fourth day, with protest rallies taken out in Sainik Colony in Jammu, Vijaypur, Kathua and other areas of the Jammu province. Support continued to pour in from Sikh religious, educational and community organisations, and the Sikh Missionary College (Regd.), Jammu, extended its solidarity to the demand for official status for Punjabi.

Taranjit Singh Tony, chairman of Gurdwara Rani Talab in Digiana, appealed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the Council of Ministers and all 90 MLAs to back the demand and facilitate a resolution granting official language status to Punjabi during the forthcoming Winter Session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly. He urged elected representatives to submit written letters supporting the demand, and said the campaign was being pursued through peaceful, constitutional and democratic means.

Part of the wider J&K language debate

The protest has returned a long-simmering language question to the streets of Jammu. Commentators note that while the J&K language debate has centred on Kashmiri, Dogri, Hindi, Urdu and English, Punjabi-speaking residents — who make up a significant share of the Jammu province's population — have pressed for their language to receive its due place in schools and official life.

The morcha leaders have vowed to continue the agitation until their demands are addressed.

What exactly are the protesters demanding?

They want Punjabi restored and promoted in the school curriculum of Jammu and Kashmir, and official language status for Punjabi in the Union Territory, which they say would safeguard the community's mother tongue.

Who is leading the campaign?

The agitation is being held under the banner of the Jammu Punjabi Morcha, with the District Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee and Gurdwara Rani Talab's Taranjit Singh Tony among those leading it. The Sikh Missionary College, Jammu, has extended its support.

What happens next?

The organisers have appealed to all 90 J&K MLAs to support a resolution granting Punjabi official language status in the forthcoming Winter Session of the Legislative Assembly, and say the peaceful dharna will continue until the demand is met.