Sidhu makes Punjabi mandatory for local Govt, tourism and cultural affairs depts

Punjab Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Tuesday issued orders to make Punjabi language mandatory for the entire official working of the Local Government, Tourism and Cultural Affairs Departments headed by him.

Written instructions have been issued to the Administrative Secretaries of both the departments that all the official correspondence as well as the working will be done in Punjabi.

Sidhu’s special initiative to promote mother tongue Punjabi came days after he made an announcement to this effect during a ‘Panchayat’, summoned by the Punjabi lovers on Sunday.

“In his written communication to the Principal Secretary Local Government and Secretary Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Sidhu emphasized that promoting Punjabi language is the primary as well as the moral duty of all of us, and in future, it must be ensured that the entire working of both the departments be done in Punjabi,” said a government spokesperson.

Similarly, the Minister has also ordered that Punjabi language must occupy prominent space in every signboard connected with both the departments.

Furthermore, in his communication, the Minister has instructed that in case of violation of these orders, departmental action must be taken against the concerned officer or employee. Reiterating his commitment to go all out for promoting Punjabi language, Sidhu said that Punjabi language is a symbol of the identity and the pride of all Punjabi people and that makes it all the more necessary for pulling out all stops in restoring its lost glory.