SHILLONG:
Taking cognizance of the language barrier highlighted in the Assembly on the first day of the budget session on March 20 by Voice of the People Party (VPP) chief and Nongkrem MLA Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit, Cabinet Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh said that the Centre must consider the language factor while appointing governors for Meghalaya.
Earlier today, the four legislators of the VPP walked out of the Assembly after the speaker allowed the governor’s speech to continue in Hindi.
Acknowledging the seriousness of the issue highlighted by the VPP president in the Assembly, Lyngdoh said that the leaders must project this to the government of India.
“I could not have reasoned, but it was an important point to raise in the Assembly. I am the part of the government; I respect the fact that the opposition raised the matter – supporting or not supporting is a matter that must be left to the political leaders to decide,” she said.
When asked if the government would write to the centre on the matter, Lyngdoh refrained from commenting on it.
“My role here is very simple. I am a minister in the government; because of the procedures of governance, I am unable to speak, but that does not mean that the point should not have been raised,” Lyngdoh said, adding that it will be a good thing for Delhi to take note of this matter.
The minister further said that the people of Meghalaya would like their dialect to be included in the Eighth Schedule.