Jammu and Kashmir government may move a Bill to include Punjabi as official language
The National Conference, ruling party in Jammu and Kashmir, has pledged to introduce a Bill in the 2027 budget session, including Punjabi among the state's official languages. This announcement has relieved Sikh leaders, who had staged a 14-day sit-in protest in Jammu to demand this inclusion. The commitment came from the party's Rajya Sabha member Shammi Oberoi, who assured the delegation of J&K Sikh Sangat, led by former minister Manjit Singh.
Oberoi, the first Sikh Rajya Sabha member from Kashmir, pledged that "a comprehensive Bill regarding the official status and implementation of Punjabi language will be introduced in the forthcoming Budget session" and that the government would ensure its passage and implementation. Currently, English, Urdu, Dogri, Kashmiri and Hindi are the official languages of Jammu and Kashmir's UT.
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