Shillong, March 20: Meghalaya Cabinet Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh has called for Indian governors to be able to speak the language of the people they represent, after Governor Phagu Chauhan addressed the Budget Session of the 11th Meghalaya Legislative Assembly in Hindi, a language not widely understood in the region, on Monday.
“We are a non-Hindi speaking community, and the Government of India should know that the people of the State of Meghalaya do not understand Hindi,” Lyngdoh said, in response to the controversy that erupted over the Governor’s speech in Hindi on the first day of the Budget Session.
Lyngdoh argued that it is necessary to communicate the inability of the state of Meghalaya and the citizens of the state who do not speak and understand Hindi. She further stated that governors who can speak the language that is spoken by the people should be sent to the state.
“It is important to highlight this issue, and I am happy that it was highlighted once again this year because we need to be consistent about that. We need to make sure that the Government of India knows that the people of Meghalaya do not understand Hindi,” Lyngdoh added.
She also highlighted that some legislators were having difficulties following the language that was spoken, even though the written speech was given to the legislators.
On being asked why she did not object when the matter was brought up in the Cabinet, Lyngdoh explained that the Governor cannot speak any other language but Hindi, and that it was not something they had anticipated discussing in the Cabinet.
While the legislators of the VPP staged a walkout in protest against Governor Phagu Chauhan addressing the House in Hindi on the first day of the Budget Session, no other members of other parties joined with the VPP.
In response to the walkout, Lyngdoh said that even though she is in the government and has to follow the procedures, she is “grateful” that the opposition highlighted the issue. “It is not that as if I am in government I should also rise as I have to maintain the protocol but I was happy that it was highlighted,” she added.
However, Lyngdoh declined to comment on whether she feels the government should write to the Centre asking for an English-speaking Governor, stating that it was a matter that needed to be communicated to Delhi. “It is a good thing to inform Delhi, it is no harm in telling the government of India to take note of this matter,” she maintained.
The Minister also reiterated that the Central Government should recognize the two local languages, Khasi and Garo, to be included in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution of India, which would give official status to these languages.
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