Purno push for Garo, Khasi recognition

New Delhi: Former Lok Sabha Speaker Purno A Sangma has demanded inclusion of Garo and Khasi languages in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution.
“In total 22 languages from as  many as 29 states are recognised by the Constitution  and out of them only three (Assamese, Bodo and Manipuri) from the entire North East found place in the 8th schedule,” Sangma said while  addressing the special sitting of Lok Sabha on the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, on Friday.
The Northeastern region has eight states and only three languages have received recognition, Sangma said. He demanded that both the Garo and Khasi languages be declared as national languages.
The veteran leader from the region felt that at least one language from each state should be included in the 8th Schedule.
Incidentally, the Meghalaya Government had passed the Meghalaya Language Act, 2005 to make the Khasi and Garo languages as the official language of the State. There is a demand from several quarters time and again to include both the languages in the 8th schedule.
Sangma argued that both the languages are being widely used not only by the people of Meghalaya but also (Contd on P-10)