Meghalaya CM Mukul Sangma announces 5-member committe on Khasi language

SHILLONG: Dismissing a resolution moved by Opposition legislators to get the Khasi language included in the Constitution's Eighth Schedule, Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma today announced constitution of a five-member committee dedicated to look into the matter.

"I would like to propose, constituting a committee, which involves members of the Opposition, from the Khasi Author Society, Sahitya Akademi and any other academicians as may be required, to follow it up to expeditiously and complete the whole process (of getting Khasi included in the Eighth Schedule)," Sangma told the house on the penultimate day of the winter session here.

He also added that the process had started a few years ago like getting the language recognized as the Associate Official Languages after the Meghalaya State Language Act, 2005 received the governor's assent on May 1, 2005.

"I propose the committee immediately. The government will notify the committee tomorrow itself to ensure that pressure is exerted on the centre in this regard," he said.

Moving the resolution, Opposition United Democratic Party ( UDP) legislator Paul Lyngdoh gave a thorough input on the historical data of the Khasi language.

He reasoned that if Manipuri and Bodo are included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, there should be a political will to do the same with Khasi language.

The language was also recognised by Gauhati University in 1948 even as Dibrugarh University, Council for the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education, New Delhi, and North Eastern Hill University have followed suit and accorded recognition.

Apart from Hills State People's Democratic Party ( HSPDP) legislator Ardent Basaiawmoit and UDP's Jemino Mawthoh and the Leader of Opposition supporting the resolution, the government chief whip Ronnie V Lyngdoh also partially supported the issue.