More speak out against 'Hindi imposition'
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 21 2022:
The League of Indigenous People's Upliftment (LIPUL) and the Leihou Khunai Kanba Luptin (LKKL) have condemned the call of the Union Home Minister Amit Shah to make Hindi a compulsory subject for all students upto Class X in all the North Eastern States.
In a statement issued today, LIPUL said the decision of the Union Home Minister goes against the democratic principles enshrined in the Constitution and if Hindi is imposed on the students of North Eastern States, it will be an act of dictatorship.
India has more than 270 languages spoken by different groups spread across the country and 22 of these languages are included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of which Manipuri is also a part of, added the statement.
LIPUL maintained that students have every right to choose and learn subjects of their own interest.
Imposing a particular language on the people is the same as asking them to forget their culture, language and tradition and substitute it with the language and culture of the imposing group, added the statement.
Different communities in Manipur have their own unique language which are revered in the same manner the Hindi speaking people of the mainland India revere 'Hindi' added LIPUL in the statement.
In a different statement, LKKL said imposition of Hindi upon the students of North Eastern States is an open invitation to strong agitations from the people of the North East.
Manipuri was included in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution on August 20, 1992 after a strong demand from the people of the State and as such the decision to impose Hindi is a grave mistake, Loitongbam Lo-kendro, general secretary LKKL added.