Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Singh Seechewal has taken serious note of the issue of Punjabi not being taught as a compulsory subject in Punjab’s Army Schools and has written letters to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.In his letters, he stated that Punjab is a sensitive border state and that any new experiments concerning language and culture should be avoided. He emphasised that the issue of Punjabi as a mother tongue is highly sensitive and deeply connected to the emotions and identity of the people of Punjab.Seechewal pointed out that the National Education Policy advocates the promotion and prioritisation of local languages. However, he alleged that the spirit of the policy is being overlooked by the Central Board of Secondary Education in this matter. He further stated that the situation is contrary to the spirit and provisions of the Punjab Language (Amendment) Act, 2008.Expressing concern, he said that under the National Education Policy 2020, even students who wish to study Punjabi are reportedly being advised to opt for Sanskrit as a compulsory subject. According to him, this has created confusion among students and parents. On behalf of the people of Punjab, Seechewal urged the central government to ensure that Punjabi is taught as a compulsory subject from Classes I to X in all Army Schools across the state.In his letter, he noted that Punjab is a border state where numerous movements and struggles have been fought in the past to protect and uphold the dignity of the Punjabi language. He recalled that during various agitations concerning Punjab’s demands, issues related to the Punjabi language and Punjabi-speaking areas were among the key concerns. Therefore, he stressed that language-related matters must be handled with utmost sensitivity and seriousness.