Chandigarh, May 13: Baltej Pannu, the state media incharge for the Aam Aadmi Party, stated Tuesday that the central government is attempting to disconnect Punjab from its cultural roots by altering the curriculum in Army schools. The criticism follows a directive that mandates Sanskrit for students while relegating Punjabi to an elective status.
The AAP leader affirmed that the policy change is part of a larger conspiracy against the state’s linguistic identity. He maintained that Punjabi pride is deeply tied to the land and that any effort to lower the language’s status would meet significant opposition.
“This decision is not just an act of linguistic discrimination, but a deeper conspiracy to disconnect Punjab from its cultural roots,” Pannu declared. He noted that the central authorities must recognize the sensitivity of the issue and revoke the order immediately.
The narrative provided by the AAP suggests that this is not an isolated event. Pannu asserted that recent years have seen multiple attempts to seize control of state assets and institutions. He referenced the displacement of villages for the construction of Chandigarh and efforts to bring regional management boards under central authority as historical context for the current dispute.
Pannu stated that the party is ready to challenge the mandate at every necessary level. “Punjabis have always stood united against any insult to their mother tongue and will continue to strongly oppose such authoritarian policies of the Centre in the future as well,” he affirmed.
The party maintained that the preference for one language should not come at the cost of the local mother tongue. Pannu noted that the decision has once again exposed a narrow administrative approach toward the region’s unique heritage.
