Centre undermining Manipuri: Ibobi
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, October 04 2024: Leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) and former chief minister Okram Ibobi has voiced disappointment over the Centre's decision to exclude Manipuri language from the list of languages newly granted classical status.

Addressing a press conference at Congress Bhawan, here, on Friday, Ibobi criticised the Union cabinet's move, calling it a clear sign of the Centre's apathy and ignorance towards the state.

Ibobi said there were high expectations that Manipuri would be granted classical language status, especially given its rich linguistic and cultural heritage.

However, the Union cabinet in its meeting on Thursday granted classical language status to five other languages but left Manipuri out, a decision which has caused widespread dismay in the state, he said.

While expressing that Manipuri language meets all the criteria of a classical language, he stated that with the 'double-engine' BJP government in power and state's Rajya Sabha MP recently advocating the issue in the parliament, there was strong belief that the language would receive the recognition it deserves.

The cabinet's decision, however, has hurt the sentiments of the people of Manipur, Ibobi added.

He further highlighted that Manipuri has been part of the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution for several years and has its own script, along with over two thousand years of written records that are well-documented by historians.

He called on the government to clarify if there were any shortcomings in Manipuri language that fell short of fulfilling the necessary criteria for getting the classical language status.

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