• NET Web Desk

Reiterating the demand for the inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule to the Indian Constitution, the Meghalaya Chief Minister – Conrad K Sangma today advocated that the legislators must be allowed to address the assembly in local dialects.

Sangma madethe request to the Deputy Speaker – Timothy D Shira, during the course of his response to a call intention notice moved by the Nongpoh legislator – Mayralborn Syiem.

“Please allow members to speak in Khasi and Garo in the House. We should at least start somewhere by allow use of local languages specially during the discussion on the governor’s address,” stated Sangma.

“This will be a message to the Government of India that we are very firm in our demand for inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India,” he said while urging other stakeholders to make representations to the Centre, in order to finally meet this long-standing demands.

“I have expressed (to them) that this step of ensuring inclusion in the Eighth Schedule is not about just a language of a particular tribe or state but the inclusion will be a big message that the Government of India respect and identify each and every one us,” he further added.

He passed an official resolution urging the Centre to include the Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution; thereby assuring that the state administration will continue to pursue the matter with the Centre.