JAMMU: The indefinite Punjabi Language Dharna/Morcha launched by the All J&K Sikh Sangat entered its tenth consecutive day on Saturday, receiving fresh support from Punjab MLA Manjinder Singh Giaspura and several religious, social and community organisations, including the All District Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee Alliance (Kashmir), S.E.W.A. Society, Sikhs 4 All Foundation and other Sikh institutions.
Manjinder Singh Giaspura, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from the Payal Assembly constituency in Punjab, specially visited Jammu to extend his support to the All J&K Sikh Sangat’s demand for granting Punjabi official language status in Jammu and Kashmir. His participation added further momentum to the ongoing agitation, which seeks due recognition for Punjabi’s linguistic, cultural and historical significance in the region.
The All J&K Sikh Sangat welcomed Giaspura’s support, describing the participation of a public representative from Punjab as an encouraging development for the movement. The Morcha continues to seek a concrete response from the government on the demand for official recognition of Punjabi.
Adding to the growing support, the All District Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee Alliance (Kashmir) extended its support through a letter dated October 9, 2026. The alliance acknowledged the efforts of the All J&K Sikh Sangat, Sikh representatives and other organisations campaigning for Punjabi’s official recognition.
The alliance emphasised the importance of preserving Punjabi as a mother tongue and protecting the linguistic, cultural and religious heritage associated with it. It urged the government to respond positively to the demand and take concrete steps towards granting Punjabi its rightful status in Jammu and Kashmir.
The S.E.W.A. Society, Jammu, also formally submitted a letter of support dated October 10, 2026, reaffirming its commitment to the ongoing agitation. The society stated that its volunteers had been continuously supporting and contributing to the campaign since its beginning. It expressed hope that the movement would achieve early success and that the Punjabi language would flourish.
The Sikhs 4 All Foundation, an educational and charitable organisation, extended its wholehearted support to the Morcha. In its letter, the foundation described the exclusion of Punjabi from official language status as an injustice to the Punjabi-speaking population and urged the present political leadership and concerned authorities to take an early decision on the demand. It pledged continued support until the demands of the movement were accepted.
Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Gobind Nagar (Munshi Chak), Jammu, also conveyed its support through a formal letter. The Gurdwara management underlined Punjabi’s close association with Sikh religious traditions, cultural heritage and community identity, and urged the authorities to grant the language its due recognition.
The District Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Doda, and Sikh Nowwan Sewadar Sabha, Batote, also extended their support through written communications. Their endorsements further reflected the participation of Sikh religious and community organisations from different parts of Jammu and Kashmir in the campaign for Punjabi’s official recognition.
The fresh endorsements have strengthened the All J&K Sikh Sangat’s campaign, with organisations reiterating the need to protect Punjabi’s linguistic and cultural legacy and ensure that it receives appropriate recognition in the Union Territory.
Meanwhile, Taranjit Singh Tony, Chairman of Gurdwara Rani Talab, Digiana, and a prominent voice of the ongoing Morcha, welcomed the fresh support and thanked Manjinder Singh Giaspura, the All District Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee Alliance (Kashmir), S.E.W.A. Society, Sikhs 4 All Foundation, Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Gobind Nagar, the District Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Doda, Sikh Nowwan Sewadar Sabha, Batote, and all other supporters for standing with the movement.
Tony said the growing support from Punjab and different parts of Jammu and Kashmir demonstrated the wider significance of the demand for Punjabi’s official recognition. He maintained that the movement was aimed at protecting the region’s linguistic, historical and cultural heritage and ensuring that Punjabi receives its rightful place.
He appealed to the Omar Abdullah-led government to respond positively to the demand and bring the Punjabi Language Bill before the Legislative Assembly so that concrete steps could be taken towards granting Punjabi official language status.
Tony reiterated that the Morcha would continue its peaceful, democratic and constitutional campaign until meaningful action was taken. He clarified that the movement was not against any language or community, but sought due recognition for Punjabi while respecting Jammu and Kashmir’s rich linguistic diversity.
As the Dharna/Morcha entered Day 10, the All J&K Sikh Sangat reaffirmed its resolve to continue the agitation until the government takes concrete steps towards granting Punjabi its rightful status as an official language of Jammu and Kashmir.
