SHILLONG, Feb 5: State National People’s Party president and Rajya Sabha member, WR Kharlukhi on Saturday said the Centre needs to be reminded of the genuine pending demands of the state.
He also said he would continue to raise issues pertaining to Meghalaya within and outside Parliament whenever required.
“The languages of the state are yet to be recognised after 50 years of statement. It is a big issue and I will pursue it with the Centre,” the MP said.
Kharlukhi said he has been utilising every opportunity to take up the issues with various leaders in New Delhi.
On the Inner Line Permit issue, he said the state government is pushing hard for its implementation and he has been following it up as an MP. He hoped the demand will be fulfilled, as would the inclusion of the Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India.
These two issues have triggered mass movements in the state. The state Assembly has also passed resolutions unanimously to pressure the Centre, which has chosen to be non-committal despite several rounds of talks.
Kharlukhi played down the speculations about senior Congress leader Ampareen Lyngdoh joining the NPP. He said it was still uncertain whether or not she would cross over, but any MLA or MDC joining the NPP “is a positive step”.
He added that he knew nothing beyond media reports saying Congress MDC Fantin Joseph Lakadong has decided to join the NPP.
“But anyone joining us will be welcome, be it Mukul M. Sangma or (state Congress) president Vincent H. Pala,” Kharlukhi said.
Lakadong, the Congress MDC from Laitumkhrah-Malki, had earlier said his supporters advised him to join the NPP. This triggered rumours that his wife, Lyngdoh, would be following suit.
Reacting to the development, Lyngdoh said her fate as a Congresswoman will be decided as and when the political uncertainty in the state stabilises.