The State BJP has distanced itself from commenting on the Voice of the People Party’s (VPP) threat to boycott the inaugural day of the Meghalaya Assembly budget session, if the Governor’s speech is only in Hindi without an English translator.
State BJP senior spokesperson Mariahom Kharkrang said, Hindi as a national language could be used anyone. “Hindi is a national language, so how can we stop that (from being used). For that matter, English is also a national language. If you don’t accept Hindi how do you accept English?” Kharkrang questioned.
He said that both Hindi and English are national languages and other local languages can also be spoken. “From the BJP side we don’t have any problem of speaking in Hindi,” he stated.
Kharkrang also said that one cannot just raise a political agenda or any excuse or reason. “Let’s concentrate on development. That is what is required for our state rather than talk about such things,” he said.
Meanwhile Cabinet Minister AL Hek maintained that Hindi is the national language and it is spoken in all the state assemblies of the country and in Parliament.