By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 21: The Congress on Thursday criticised the state government for its inability to pressure the Centre to recognise Khasi and Garo languages despite passing a resolution in the Assembly in 2018.
“It is a negligence you can say since the resolution was passed in September 2018. It was not a simple resolution but a government resolution which had the consent of 60 members of the House. Everybody accepted and voted for it,” Congress leader and Opposition Chief Whip, Saleng A Sangma said.
He said the resolution should have been followed up seriously over any other issues because it is one of the most important ones.
He said it will be easier for the students of the state if they have an option to write their answers in competitive exams in the local languages.
Stating that it is the duty of the state government to make sure the resolution is passed in Parliament, Sangma said, “Language issue is the real issue and that is why, the resolution was adopted on the floor of the House. There is no need for Khasi academicians, Garo academicians or Khasi Authors’ Society or Garo Authors’ Society to exert pressure on Delhi.” “This is the duty of the government to push harder since this is its resolution. No other state passed this resolution to put their languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution but this particular government did,” he said.
The Opposition Chief Whip said there may be hundreds of other languages waiting to be recognised, but Meghalaya’s demand has a stronger point as a government resolution was passed seeking recognition for the two languages.