Language recognition: CM’s inaction irks KAS

By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 4: The Khasi Authors’ Society (KAS) has expressed its disappointment over Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma’s failure to send a formal communiqué to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs asking them to draft an official bill amending the Eight Schedule of the Constitution to include the Khasi language.
KAS president DRL Nonglait informed reporters on Monday that the KAS delegation had met with the chief minister following their return from Delhi. The delegation’s request was for the state government to write to the Centre requesting that it table an official bill in the winter session of Parliament amending the Constitution to allow for the use of the Khasi language.
He claimed that the CM had informed the delegation that the state government would prepare the letter and would include any information that the government would need to see fit.
“We have been checking in with the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) to find out if the government’s letter requesting the MHA to table an official bill has been received. However, the Political Department has not written any letter to the MHA. Since the Parliamentary session began today, it is now too late,” the president of KAS stated.
He went on to say that the KAS had written to the MHA requesting the official drafting of a bill to bring the language of Khasi into the Parliament.
“However, the MHA did not respond at all. Things would have been different if the state government had advocated for the same,” according to Nonglait.
Declaring that they are not discouraged by this development, he announced that the KAS executive committee will convene shortly to determine the best method to press the Centre to add the Khasi language to the Eight Schedule.
He suggested that they could even convene a general meeting to discuss this issue further.
In response to a question, he stated that  when it comes to their demand, the three MPs who represent the state and the state government are not coordinating.
He went on: “There is a lack of seriousness and commitment to pursuing this demand with the Centre.”
The president of KAS also stated that since 2003, no new languages have been added to the Eight Schedule of the Constitution. He claimed that many widely spoken languages, like Rajasthani and Bhojpuri, are still missing from the Eighth Schedule.