Meghalaya TMC MP demands inclusion of Khasi, Garo in 8th schedule of constitution

The TMC raised the demand for the inclusion of Garo and Khasi languages in the Eighth Schedule of the constitution in the Lok Sabha today. TMC MP Sudip Bandopadhyay called

The TMC raised the demand for the inclusion of Garo and Khasi languages in the Eighth Schedule of the constitution in the Lok Sabha today.

TMC MP Sudip Bandopadhyay called for the inclusion of Garo and Khasi languages in the Eighth Schedule of the constitution.

Bandopadhyay said that Article 29 of the Constitution states that a section of citizens having a distinct language, script, or culture has the right to conserve the same.

Under the Meghalaya State Legislature Act 2005, Garo and Khasi have been declared associate official languages and as per the Census 2011, there are over 13 lakh Khasi speakers and 9 lakh Garo speakers.

The issue in the inclusion of the two languages has been the lack of their own original script, Bandopadhyay pointed out.

On September 27, 2018, the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly adopted a resolution to petition the Central Government to include the Khasi and Garo languages in the eighth schedule of the constitution.

The TMC MP urged the Centre to take cognizance of the state’s demand.

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