By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 4: Cabinet minister and NPP spokesperson, Ampareen Lyngdoh on Wednesday said 38 languages, including Khasi, are listed for consideration for their inclusion in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
She appealed to all political parties going to 2024 Lok Sabha elections to include the language demand in their respective manifestos.
“As far as I understand, we are in a quite positive position. We should put all the pressure to ensure that political parties in the county recognise the indigenous languages of the people of various states. Thirty-eight of them are there. If amendments were made in the past, Government of India should not shy away from this,” Lyngdoh said.
“My fervent appeal to all political parties contesting the Parliamentary elections next year is that this should be an important agenda and item in their manifesto,” she said.
Recalling that a ministerial delegation, led by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, recently met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and submitted a memorandum to him on some unresolved issues, Lyngdoh said one issue was the demand for the inclusion of Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
Talking about a seminar on the Khasi language in the national capital, she said, “We were made to understand that 38 languages have been listed and forwarded to the department of language for its consideration for yet another amendment to the Eighth Schedule”.
Lyngdoh said there was one amendment to the Eighth Schedule in 1992, followed by another amendment in 2002-2003. She said the department in question has now forwarded the same to Government of India.
“It looks like we have now qualified after having completed all procedures and criteria for the recognition of the Khasi language,” she said.
“We were informed in the seminar that the indigenous Khasi language has conformed to all necessary queries of Government of India, so it should not still send back the documents asking for further information and explanations from us,” Lyngdoh said.
“My personal opinion is that with the Parliament unlikely to have any more session till the next general elections, it will be fit for us to follow up on this matter when the next Parliament session is held after 2024 elections,” the minister said.