Kharlukhi assures to take up ILP, language issue in Parliament

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaNovember 1, 2021

The Khasi Authors’ Society along with the Khasi Department of North Eastern Hill University met Dr W R Kharlukhi, the Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament for facilitating the process of the inclusion of Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India.

The official recognition of Khasi language has been pending since many decades, even as both the Khasi and Garo languages have been the State official language and during the recent years the State Assembly had passed a resolution for the same. Dr W R Kharlukhi stated that there is a need for rigorous strategies to impress upon the central Ministry of Home Affairs the genuine demand for recognition of Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule. Moreover, he said that proper lobby is also required at the Department of Official Languages and other relevant authorities to expedite the same.

The Rajya Sabha MP stated that in the forthcoming session of parliament, he will bring up the issue during the zero hour notice. He further informed that both the issue of Inner Line Permit and recognition of Khasi and Garo Language in the Eight Schedule will be taken up in the session for discussion.

It may be mentioned that the case has been pending for many decades in spite of the fact that Khasi language has fulfilled and in certain cases surpassed the required criteria for recognition under the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India. For the past many years the stalwarts like Prof G G Swell, Mr Hoover Hynniewta, Hoping Stone Lyngdoh, Dr B R Kharlukhi, P Ripple Kyndiah have spearheaded and pursued regularly; however, the response from the Ministry of Home Affairs in the recent correspondence is not forthcoming as the matter is being examined.