SAD protest against denial of official lang status to Punjabi

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today alleged that the Chandigarh Administration was denying official language status to Punjabi and not implementing Punjab quota in the union territory.
A delegation of the SAD led by party MP Prem Singh Chandumajra met Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator V P Singh Badnore.
The delegation told the Governor that despite the fact that Chandigarh was planned as a capital of Punjab, grave injustice was done to it by denying official language status to Punjabi.
The SAD MP said that the Chandigarh was the only UT in the country where the regional language had not been given official status and demanded that this anomaly be corrected immediately.

The delegation members, including former minister Daljit Singh Cheema, alleged that over the years a concerted effort had been made to change the Punjabi character of the city.
Cheema said it started with removal of Punjabi sign boards and today the offices in the city does not correspondence in Punjabi.

Cheema said the city's department of education was adopting a discriminatory attitude towards teachers from Punjab, who are serving on deputation.
He said as per the provisions of Punjab Reorganisation Act, the employees of Punjab and Haryana states were entitled to be taken on deputation with Chandigarh administration in the ratio of 60:40.

He alleged that the education department was not adhering to these mandatory provisions and filling vacant posts with its own cadre without consulting the states.
"In these circumstances, the teachers and other employees hesitate to apply or join Chandigarh administration on deputation, keeping in view the uncertainty about their repatriation on flimsy grounds," he added.
Badnore assured the delegation that a high level committee would look into all such issues.
He also said once the committee, which would have representatives of Punjab and Haryana, gave its report the same would be sent to the Centre for necessary action, said party release.