Govt asked to clarify on Hindi subject issue
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, May 06 2022:
Six student bodies of the state, namely All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU), Manipuri Students' Federation (MSF), Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM), Kangleipak Students' Association (KSA), Students' Union of Kangleipak (SUK) and Apunba Imagi Machasing (AIMS), on Friday carried out a protest rally against the central government's move of making Hindi subject compulsory till Class X .
Volunteers of the six student bodies took out the protest rally from Kwakeithel Tiddim Ground during which they denounced Union Home Minister Amit Shah's announcement of making Hindi compulsory till Class X .
They also shouted slogans, calling for allowing people to make their own choice on what they want to study or not study.
Speaking on the sidelines, DESAM president Leishangthem Lamyanba urged the state government to clarify on the reports that said that it has given approval to the central government's move.
Lamyanba stated that Amit Shah's announcement is unacceptable.
Hindi along with Manipuri is one the 22 languages included in the Eighth Schedule of Indian Constitution.
It is unreasonable to take such a step to promote Hindi when it is on the same level as Manipuri.
This could be only viewed as an attempt to suppress our native language.
If one wants to study Hindi, they can do so without trying to make others do the same.
In addition, National Education Policy (NEP) -2020 has specific provisions for promoting all languages in the country.
As such, the union home minister's statement is in contradiction to the Policy, the DESAM president remarked.
On the other hand, there are reports that the chief ministers of the north east states have accepted the union minister's proposal.
Thus, CM Biren should clarify the matter to the people, considering there is restlessness among the masses over the threat to indigenous languages of the state, Lamyanba contended.
He then urged the state government to formulate a language policy so as to help save the different indigenous languages of the state.