Row over criticism of Punjabi language on 'Hindi Divas': Punjabi Kendri Lekhak Sabha condemns act; seeks apology

PATIALA: The row over an alleged criticism of Punjabi language during the "Hindi-Divas" organized by Bhasha Vibhag Punjab in Patiala has taken the centre stage among the community of Punjabi writers and lovers of Punjabi language as well.
Punjabi Kendri Lekhak Sabha, a body of Punjabi writers, had sought an apology from the Urdu poet who allegedly insulted the Punjabi language by making objectionable remarks and the director of Bhasha Vibhag for not stopping the poet to speak against Punjabi language and promoting hatred.
The incident took place on September 13 at the auditorium of Bhasha Vibhag where an Urdu Poet from Khanna, Ludhiana, a participant in the event to celebrate the ‘Hindi Divas’ allegedly termed Punjabi language as rough and language of abusers. At this, Dr Tejwant Singh Mann, Shiromani Sahitkar and president Punjabi Kendri Lekhak Sabha raised objections. However, the event organizers and some writers allegedly switched off his mike and he was turned down off the stage forcibly. Later Dr Tejwant refused to accept any honour that was meant to be given to some renowned writers.
The video clip of Dr Tejwant Singh Mann has gone viral on social media in which he is seen raising objections while some persons are asking him to calm down whereas some others prevented him to speak.
Dr Tejwant Singh Mann, who had been serving as president of Punjabi Kendri Lekhak Sabha since 2011 and had written over 70 books, said, “An Urdu poet Sardar Panchi while comparing with other languages said on stage that Punjabi is "Ragde Jhaghde di Bhasha & gaali galoch di bhasha" (the language of abusers). He said Hindi was a language of love and Urdu was the language of "Shero-Shayari". I raised objections but the organizers and some Hindi writers snatched mike from me and forcibly turned me down from the stage. One may love any language/s but they do not have any right to condemn other languages. An inquiry from the state government should be conducted into this matter so that the truth may come out. We seek an apology from Sardar Panchi for making objectionable remarks over Punjabi Language and the Director of Bhasha Vibhag that failed to stop such a poet from making objectionable comments. Panchi also made objectionable remarks against the women sitting in the audience by saying that he sees his wife in all the women sitting before him."
Urdu Poet, Sardar Panchi, when contacted, refuted all the allegations leveled against him. He said that he doesn’t know anything about this topic.
Dr Tejwant further alleged that a Hindi writer Hukam Chand Rajpal threatened him immediately after his objections against criticism of Punjabi language. Tejwant alleged that HC Rajpal asked him to wait for two years and they would tell what the Hindi language is.
However, HC Rajpal refused and said that he would not like to land in any controversy. He said, "I had issued no such threats. The Punjabi language is my mother tongue and I had great respect for it. I have written over 60 books out of which 50 are in Hindi. The Haryana government recently awarded me Gaurav Samman. I had only said that Hindi should be brought as the language of people and it may or may not become as National Language someday."
Bhasha Vibhag Director, Karamjit Kaur said, "There was no misbehave done with Dr Tejwant Singh. Sometimes writers say such things that are objected by others. We had only tried to cool down Dr Tejwant that we will discuss this chapter later."
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