Cabinet minister Ampareen Lyngdoh today said that the demand for inclusion of Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution should be followed up in 2024 when the new Lok Sabha is elected.
Speaking to media persons here, Lyngdoh said that with the Lok Sabha not likely to have any more session till the next general elections in 2024, it will be fit to follow up on the demand when the next Lok Sabha is reconvened after the 2024 elections.
“To date there seems no scope of the possibility of this matter (Khasi language) being taken up in the Parliament because a special session already called had concluded and whatever bills and amendments that were proposed have already been passed. It looks like there will be no further bills or amendments in the immediate future,” she said.
Lyngdoh also appealed to all the political parties contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha polls to include the demand in their manifesto.
Pointing out that Khasi is one of the 38 listed languages that are awaiting the assent for submission of amendment to the Parliament – both the Lok Sabha as well as the Rajya Sabha, she said, “We have completed all procedures and criteria for the recognition of the Khasi language which means we are nearing to our goal.”
Informing that Chief Minister Conrad Sangma had recently met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and submitted a memorandum of various unresolved issues of the State, Lyngdoh said that the inclusion of Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule is one such matter indicated to Modi.
When asked about the seminar on the Khasi language held recently in New Delhi, she said, “We have been made to understand 38 languages that are now being listed and have been forwarded to the Department of Languages for its consideration for yet another amendment of the Eighth Schedule”.
“In 1992 there was one amendment. Subsequently, in 2002-2003 another amendment was initiated and the department has now forwarded the same to the Government of India in its own line department,” Lyngdoh added.
