Badal asks Pakistanis to learn Gurmukhi script

Amritsar, June 13 (UNI) Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president and former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has appealed to the Pakistan government to reintroduce the 'Gurmukhi' script which is used for the Punjabi language in India.

Mr Badal made this appeal at the historic gurdwara of Dera Sahib in Lahore during a function held to commemorate the 400th martyrdom of fifth Sikh Guru, Arjan Dev.

The SAD president, who returned from Lahore alongwith Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Avtar Singh Makkar and other Akali leaders today, told media persons the SGPC could assist the government of Pakistan's Punjab province in promoting 'Gurmukhi'.

''We have offered to send text books in Gurmukhi to Pakistan,'' he said.

Punjabi was taught in the 'Gurmukhi' script in Pakistani Punjab before partition. However after 1947, the 'Gurmukhi' script was replaced by 'Shahmukhi', a Persian script.

Refering to his talks with Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabhandhak Committee (PSGPC) officals, Mr Badal said they want India to adopt a liberal visa policy towards Sikhs who want to visit historic gurdwaras in India. A large of Pakistani Sikhs have not been able to pay obesiance at the Harmandir Sahib here as they had been denied visas, he added.

Mr Badal has assured PSGPC president Bishan Singh he would take up the demand of the Pakistani Sikhs with the Indian government.

''Both the governments should liberally issue visas to pilgrims so that they can have easy assess to shrines on both sides of the border,'' he added.

Mr Badal also offered to construct a 'serai' at Lahore for Sikh pilgrims who visit Dera Sahib.

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