SHILLONG, JUN 10: BJP leader and former cabinet minister AL Hek Wednesday urged the Centre to include Khasi and Garo in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, days after the Meghalaya government promulgated an ordinance granting them official language status. 

Hek said the MDA-II government has already completed the state-level process, and the next step should be national recognition. 

“Inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages: Recently we have seen 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 told reporters. 

He pointed out that both languages already hold associate official status in the state, but only through executive 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 said. 

Hek said the BJP will now pursue the matter with the Union government to secure constitutional recognition. 

“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,” he said. 

When asked about the party’s efforts, the Pynthorumkhrah MLA said BJP’s two MLAs, including one cabinet minister, are actively following up on 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.