HYDERABAD, Oct 22: Political and literary organizations have criticized abolition of Salees Sindhi language teaching in class-XI. They said the Sindh governor’s order in this connection was repugnant to the Sindhi Language Bill 1972.
In a statement issued here on Saturday, Awami Tehrik Chief Rasool Bux Palijo said the non-acceptance and non-implementation of the language bill and proposed amendment to thrust Urdu on the people of Sindh by force had fully exposed the claim of the ethnic group and General Pervez Musharraf that they were Sindhis.
He held the Musharraf government, his ethnic group, feudal lords, Mirs, Pirs and Sardars responsible for the destruction of Sindhi language.
He said that these vested interests were depriving Sindh of Indus waters, sources of livelihood and now the language.
He warned that such policies would prove very harmful for the unity and integrity of Pakistan.
He said all those members of the Sindh Assembly who vote against language of Shah Latif and Sachal Sarmast would meet the fate of Naumal and Chanesar.
He called upon all the Sindhis to raise their collective voice to protect their 5,000-year-old language and culture.
SANGAT: At a meeting held here on Saturday, the Sindhi Adabi Sangat decided to observe a black day on October 28 in Sindh.
Sangat general secretary Taj Joyo presided over the meeting.
It was decided in the meeting that the district bodies of the Sangat would also hold protest meetings and adopt resolutions on Sunday against the abolition Sindhi language teaching in class-XI.
It demanded strict implementation of the 1972 act and scheme of studies of the curriculum wing of the federal ministry of education on the subject.
Meanwhile, the Sangat leaders in a separate statement hailed courageous stand taken by the Sindh chief minister on the issue.
Sangat leaders Taj Joyo, Riazat Buriro, Asif Mithiani and Noor Jakhrani said the statement of the Sindh chief minister would go a long way in defusing the tension.
They cautioned the committee appointed by the government to offer its recommendations on the teaching of Sindhi and Urdu languages at the college level.
They said the Sangat would not accept the proposal of teaching Sindhi and Urdu languages as optional subjects.
HUNGER STRIKE: Activists of the Sindh National Party continued observing hunger strike outside the Hyderabad press club on the second consecutive day here on Sunday.
Talking to reporters, SNP leaders Ashraf Noonari, Shad Khoso, Khadim Khaskheli and Murad Bhambhro said that the abolition of Sindhi language teaching to Urdu-speaking students of class-XI was a direct attack on Sindh.
They said the protest would not be called off unless the language bill of 1972 was implemented in letter and spirit.
JSM-J: Jeay Sindh Mahaz (Junejo) chairman Abdul Khaliq Junejo in a statement faxed to Dawn severely criticized the decision of the Sindh government and Sindh governor to abolish Sindhi language teaching to the students of class-XI.
He termed the decision of the Sindh governor as unconstitutional and insulting.
He called upon the Sindhis members of the Sindh Assembly to tender their resignations in deference to their mother tongue and to honour the confidence of their voters.
He appealed to the Sindhis to rise to the occasion and protect their national identity.
