Chandigarh, May 12, 2026: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led Central Government over its decision to make Sanskrit compulsory and Punjabi an optional subject in Army schools located across Punjab. The party described the move as an attempt to weaken Punjab’s linguistic identity and cultural roots, asserting that Punjabis would never accept any effort to sideline their mother tongue within the state itself.
AAP Punjab State Media In-charge Baltej Pannu said the decision reflects what he termed as the Centre’s “anti-Punjab mindset.” He stated that the BJP government has repeatedly taken steps that have created resentment among Punjabis and triggered concerns regarding the protection of the state’s rights, institutions and cultural identity.
According to Baltej Pannu, Punjabi is not merely a language but an emotional and cultural identity deeply connected to the people of the state. He said reducing Punjabi to a secondary position in Punjab’s educational institutions is unacceptable and would face strong opposition from the people.
AAP Alleges Repeated Attempts to Weaken Punjab’s Identity
Addressing the issue, Baltej Pannu accused the BJP-led Centre of consistently attempting to undermine Punjab through various policy decisions. He said controversies surrounding Chandigarh, Panjab University, and the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) had already created a perception that the Centre was trying to reduce Punjab’s administrative and cultural influence.
He stated that the latest decision regarding Army schools has once again intensified concerns among Punjabis. According to him, the move is not just about language policy but reflects a broader pattern of decisions that many in Punjab perceive as attempts to weaken the state’s identity.
Pannu said Punjab has a long and proud linguistic history, and any attempt to diminish the importance of Punjabi within the state itself would naturally provoke public anger. He stressed that people across Punjab take immense pride in their language and cultural heritage and would not remain silent on such issues.
He also clarified that AAP is not opposed to Sanskrit or any other language being taught in schools. However, he argued that making Punjabi optional in Punjab while giving compulsory status to another language sends a wrong message and undermines the dignity of the mother tongue of the state.
Calls for Immediate Rollback, Warns of Public Opposition
Baltej Pannu demanded that the Central Government immediately revoke the decision and restore Punjabi’s primary position in educational institutions operating in Punjab. He said policies related to language should respect regional identity and public sentiment instead of imposing what he described as “one-sided decisions.”
He further alleged that the move could gradually disconnect younger generations from Punjab’s cultural and linguistic roots. According to him, language plays a critical role in preserving heritage, traditions and collective identity, and weakening it could have long-term social consequences.
Pannu warned that Punjabis have historically united whenever their language or identity was challenged and would continue to resist any such attempts in the future as well. He said the state has always stood firmly for the dignity of Punjabi language and culture, and this issue would not be treated lightly.
The AAP leader also accused the BJP of pursuing divisive politics by interfering in matters linked to regional identity. He said Punjab’s people have repeatedly shown that they strongly oppose policies perceived as discriminatory or disrespectful towards the state.
Concluding his remarks, Baltej Pannu said Punjab’s cultural and linguistic identity cannot be weakened through administrative decisions. He asserted that AAP would continue raising its voice against any policy that attempts to reduce the importance of Punjabi in Punjab itself.
