PATIALA: Expressing concerns over the withdrawal of Punjabi as a compulsory subject for classes 9 and 10 by the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) government, chief of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee Kirpal Singh Badungar has shot a letter to J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti seeking her immediate intervention. Badungar said that the SGPC would take up the issue at the highest level and if required they would even send a delegation to meet Mufti in this regard.J&K in a recent order passed on June 19, has made Kashmiri, Dogri and Bodhi in government and private schools mandatory. As a result, Punjabi which till now was taught as a compulsory subject has been taken out of the ambit of mandatory subjects to be taught up to class 10. The decision will be implemented from next academic session.Speaking to TOI Badungar said Punjabi is the second most widely-spoken language of J&K. Besides, a large number of Punjabis live there. He said the J&K government should respect the sentiments of the Punjabis and revoke its decision.In his letter, Badungar has categorically recalled that "Maharaja Ranjit Singh had ruled Jammu for years and therefore Punjabi is part of their day-to-day lives. So, the government should ensure that their religious sentiments are respected."Till date Punjabi was a compulsory subject and taught in all government and private schools across the state up to matriculation. The students had an option in plus one to pick Hindi, Urdu or Punjabi as one of the optional subjects in the board exams.

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