Tuesday, March 15 2005 15:46 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Opposing a PIL seeking deletion of the word "Sindh" from the National Anthem, Sindhi Council of India (SCI) has moved the Supreme Court saying any such move would deal a body blow to "seven million Hindu Sindhis" in India who "are creators of wealth and generate employment".

Denouncing the attempt to link the word "Sindh" in the Anthem to the province in Pakistan, SCI said in its application before the Court that, "In Pakistan Sindhi language is not an official language. The official work even in Sindh province after partition in 1947 is carried on in Urdu language. The Pakistan Government has forced Urdu medium in Sindh schools."

"The National Anthem has no reference to any particular geographical area in India, as its composition was general and referred to some of the cultural influences in India of Indian origin," said advocate Vijay Panjwani who moved the application on behalf of the Sindhi Council.

Referring to the contribution of Sindhis in India, the SCI said, "Sindhis are creators of wealth and generate employment. It is believed that one Sindhi on an average generates employment for eleven non-Sindhis."

Supporting the Centre's stand for retention of the word "Sindh" in the Anthem, the Council said that majority of Hindu Sindhis migrated to India after partition.

"But it is false to say that the migration took place because the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru promised Sindhis a separate State, though he had helped them to rehabilitate," it said adding that the word "Sindh" in the Anthem connotes the cultural heritage in India rather than any geographical or territorial boundaries.