SHILLONG:
Cabinet Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh, on July 18, informed that the Inner Line Permit (ILP) is a Government of India matter, and a consent has to be sought from the centre on introducing it in Meghalaya.
“We will wait for the Chief Minister who is in Delhi to discuss these issues and brief us on the matter, and we will definitely not like to see these matters hanging. Public should know that the federal structure of the country ensures conformity to certain procedures and rules that are to be followed,” Lyngdoh told media persons.
As for the recognition of Khasi language in the Eight Schedule, Lyngdoh said that the state government needs to take certain steps, which are being taken to ensure that Khasi is recognised in the constitution.
“You need to ensure that you qualify on so many accounts, and as an indigenous language, the chief minister is propagating conduct of certain examinations in local languages. If you want there should be no disparity of language.” She said.
Stating that the recognition of Khasi language is something which the government will fight for, she maintained that there are many other states facing similar issues of language recognition.
Asked about the Khasi Authors’ Society (KAS) holding the government responsible for not pushing the language recognition demand in the last five years, Lyngdoh said that it is unacceptable for anyone of repute to speak like that government has not anything.
“If you feel that it is such an easy cup of tea, and if you feel that just going to Delhi would solve the matter, I have no problem,” she said.
Taking a dig at KAS statement on state government not doing anything, Lyngdoh said that the KAS should have rather resorted to jointly addressing the issue.
She said that no Authors Association can bypass a government’s authority, and agendas cannot be hijacked.
“I think they (KAS) should be knowing by now that there are certain procedures as members of the KAS were also members of drafting committee that sent proposals to Delhi,” she said.