Moga, Punjab/New Delhi (June 05, 2014): SShowing sensitivity towards their linguistic identity in the Indian Parliament, three of four newly elected members of parliament of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) took oath in Punjabi language. The trend was followed by Harsimrat Badal, Captian Amrinder Singha and other SAD (Badal), Congress MPs from Punjab.
Bhagwant Mann taking oath as member of Indian Parliament on June 05, 2014.
Interestingly, comedian-turned-politician Bhagwant Mann was wearing yellow turban, commonly viewed as a style followed by fans of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, while taking oath on Thursday (June 05) afternoon.
“Main Pran Karda Han Ki mein….” was the opening line of the oath, which the AAP MPs read in Punjabi and were seemed proud enough. Bhagwant Mann concluded his oath with the slogan, “Inqulab..Zindabad”. First of all Harinder Singh Norway took oath in English while Prof Sadhu Singh, Bhagwant Mann and then Dharamvir Gandhi took the oath in Punjabi in the Indian parliament on the call of speaker of the parliament PA Sangma.
Just after AAP MPs concluded their oath one by one, BJP MP from Gurdaspur constituency of Punjab took oath in foreign language English. Congress MP captain Amrinder Singh also took oath in English. As Bhagwant Mann had already declared to take oath in Punjabi wearing turban, Akali and congress MPs including Harsimrat Badal took oath in Punjabi.
Earlier, when MP from Bathinda constituency and wife of Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal, Harsimrat Badal had taken oath as cabinet minister some days ago, she read it out in English. She had invited criticism from Punjabi and Sikh community on the day. The step of AAP MPs is appreciated by Sikh community as well as Punjabis from across the world.
“As we had already declared to take oath in Punjabi, the congress and Akali MPs followed us. In our daily life, we swear in Punjabi and why shouldn’t we take oath in Punjabi in parliament too”, said Prof Sadhu Singh while talking to Sikh Siyasat News (SSN) over phone.
(revised at: 19:35 IST | June 05, 2014)