TAMULPUR:
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma urged President Ram Nath Kovind to consider the inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution.
“I strongly feel that inclusion of languages of different tribes and different communities will lead to a stronger integration of this very diverse but great nation of ours,” the Chief Minister said, addressing the 61st Bodo Sahitya Sabha at Tamulpur in Assam, on May 4.
He further urged the President to support the aspirations of the people of the Northeast and to ensure that languages from the region are included in the Eighth Schedule to protect and promote the languages and identity of the people.
“We urge you to ensure that not just Garo and Khasi, but all the different languages of the communities and tribes in the Northeast are preserved. They may be small but their identity comes from the language and the culture that they have,” he added.
Speaking at the do, the chief minister also got nostalgic about his Late father, PA Sangma. “Late PA Sangma Ji was somebody who had a great affinity for the poor. I remember till today when he was an MP when Bodoland was undergoing many issues, he raised his voice for the Bodos and Bodoland in the Parliament. For the respect that he extended to the Bodo people, similarly, the Bodo people extended the same love and respect towards him,” Conrad said.
Lauding the Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS), he said, “We all are inspired to see how Bodos have ensured that their language moves ahead, it is nurtured, and documented.”
Apart from the President and Chief Minister, the concluding day of the Sabha was attended by Chief Ministers of Assam and Sikkim, Himanta Biswa Sarma and Prem Singh Tamang, respectively.