Shillong, Nov 27: A resolution to urge the Centre to include Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution was passed by the State Assembly on Tuesday.

The fresh resolution has replaced an earlier resolution which was passed by the State Assembly on September 27.

Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma tabled the resolution during the one day special session and later it was passed by the House unanimously.

Recalling the resolution which was passed by the Assembly on September 27 during the Autumn Session, the Chief Minister said that government found that the contents of the earlier resolution should be further strengthened.

“In consultation with the Khasi Authors’ Society, and Achik Literature Society, it was felt necessary that a fresh resolution should be passed to replace the earlier resolution,” Conrad said.

He said that Khasi and Garo have fulfilled criterias for getting included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution and “we want the two languages to be included together to send a message of unity and one voice.”

Leader of Opposition, Mukul Sangma said that a team of dedicated officers should be formed to pursue the matter while demanding that necessary support should be provided to the two organizations – Khasi Authors’ Society and Achik Literature Society.

Independent MLA, S. K. Sun said that the two organizations should be recognized by the government in the line of Sahitya Akademi as in the case of Konkani and Kannada languages.

Congress MLA, Ampareen Lyngdoh said that language is the strength and identify of any race or community, and said that representatives from different political parties should be included if there is a need to raise a common voice.

According to the 2011 census, Garo at present has a language population of 936,496.

The Khasi Authors’ Society said that there are 14,31,344 people in India who speak Khasi.

In 2005, the Meghalaya Assembly had also passed the Meghalaya Language Act which recognized Khasi and Garo as the state’s associate official languages. But English continues to be an official language as no other language links the Khasi, Jaiñtia and the Garo communities.