Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 21
“India is a beautiful bouquet of multiple languages and cultures in different regions and those propagating the concept of ‘one language, one nation’ are anti-nationals,” state Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Charanjit Singh Channi said at a function held to mark the International Mother Language Day here on Sunday.
The programme was organised by the Punjab Kala Parishad.
Channi said some people were trying to pull flowers out of this bouquet, which would create a threat to the existence of many minorities. He said unity in diversity was the real strength of the nation and advocated that people should not be divided in the name of language, religion or caste.
The minister said to promote Punjabi, it must be made compulsory till Class X in all private schools of the state as well. “Apart from this, the working of the courts should be done in Punjabi,” Channi said, adding that the state under the leadership of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh was actively working in this direction so that even common people could easily read and understand all cases and judgments.
Channi announced that this year, a Rs 2-crore budget provision would be made for the Punjab Kala Parishad. He also announced celebrating the ‘Punjab Cultural Day’ annually, the date for which would be finalised soon.
On the occasion, Punjab Kala Parishad chairman and prominent Punjabi poet Padma Shri Surjit Patar said we should respect all languages and cultures as per the message, teachings and sacrifice of Guru Tegh Bahadur.
Pvt schools must make Punjabi compulsory till Class X: Minister Channi
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