SHILLONG, JULY 26: Eight legisators of the Opposition All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) on Tuesday staged protest outside Parliament in New Delhi demanding the Centre to revoke the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Meghalaya and Assam and immediate inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India.

Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs of the AITC were also part of the protest march at Vijay Chowk.

Placards were also displayed which read: “No people’s agreement = no border agreement”, “The proxy BJP government gave away Meghalaya’s land”, “value Meghalaya’s tribal land, value Meghalaya’s identity”.

“We are drawing the attention of the government of India to take cognizance of the sentiments of people of the state and scrap the Assam-Meghalaya border agreement,” AITC leader Dr. Mukul Sangma said.

Assam and Meghalaya had signed the MoU for resolving the six areas of difference on March 29, in the presence of the Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Stating that the boundary issue is a long pending issue that needs to be resolved, Dr Sangma said, “But then resolution for any issue is intended to create an enabling environment for the future; a conducive environment to enable people to live in a mutual coexistence.”

He further said that the issue of Assam-Meghalaya border which has been pending for long and which have been attended to by the present government.

“The agreement which has been arrived at is against the sentiment and wishes and acceptance of the people of Meghalaya,” he added.

On the languages issue, Sangma said There has been a persistent demand from the people of Meghalaya for inclusion of Garo and Khasi language in the Eighth schedule of the Constitution of India.

In terms of preservation of languages of tribes and communities,  for years, the leaders from the state are leaving no stone unturned in ensuring the inclusion of Khasi and Garo (languages) in the Eight Schedule.

“Now having done all the necessary due diligence to qualify for the inclusion in the 8th schedule of the Constitution of India, we don’t understand the reason for the delay for the Government of India to take action on this and complete the whole process (of) inclusion of Garo and Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule,” the leader of opposition questioned.

“This is inconsistent with the aspiration of our people, particularly the youths. The inclusion of these languages in the Eighth schedule provides a platform, for a fair playing ground for the youth,” he added.