SHILLONG, JUNE 10: Former cabinet minister and BJP leader AL Hek on Wednesday called on the Centre to grant constitutional recognition to Khasi and Garo by including them in the Eighth Schedule, following the Meghalaya government’s recent ordinance on official language status.
Hek said the state has already taken the required administrative step, and the focus must now shift to New Delhi.
“Inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages: Recently we have seen that the MDA-II government has already passed the ordinance which has been approved by the Governor. We had done this in the past also through an ordinance,” Hek said.
He noted that while both languages function as associate official languages, their status remains limited to state-level orders.
“Before also and now also in the state of Meghalaya, Khasi and Garo are the associate official languages. Now also it is through ordinance only,” he added.
The BJP leader said the party will press the Union government to complete the process. “Now the importance here is that we have to request and appeal to the government of India to include Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule for recognition,” Hek stated.
Asked about BJP’s role, he said the party’s representation in the state government gives it a direct channel to push the demand.
“BJP has two MLAs, of which one is a cabinet minister, and we are pursuing this to ensure that the government of India will recognize Khasi and Garo languages by considering inclusion in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India,” Hek said.
