LOK SABHA
SYNOPSIS OF DEBATES
(Proceedings other than Questions & Answers)
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Monday, December 22, 2003 / Pausa 1, 1925 (Saka)
CONSTITUTION (ONE-HUNDREDTH AMENDMENT) BILL, 2003
(Amendment of Eighth Schedule)
THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND INCHARGE OF THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS AND MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS (SHRI L.K. ADVANI): moving the Motion that the Bill be taken into consideration, said: This Bill is confined to amending the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution which lists the recognized languages. The amendment seeks to include Bodo language also in the Eighth Schedule. The inclusion of Bodo language in the Eighth Schedule is in pursuance of a very valuable Memorandum of Settlement arrived at between the representatives of the Bodo community, the Government of Assam and the Government of India sometime back. I commend this Bill for unanimous acceptance of the House.
SHRI P.R. KYNDIAH: We welcome the inclusion of Bodo language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution as it has been agreed upon in the Tripartite Agreement. This amendment will pave the way for the larger peace, harmony and tranquility of North Eastern area. There have been demands over the years for the inclusion of Khasi language which is a language which comes under one of the language groups of India. This language is one of the richest languages. Even the Sahitya Sabha has recognized this language. We request the Government to consider the inclusion of Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule.
SHRI ANADI SAHU: It is a welcome move to include the Bodo language in the Eighth Schedule. The Santhali language is a very rich language. The Santhalis are a proud and good people. They deserve some consideration now. I would suggest that whichever languages are being taken up now in the Eighth Schedule should be in the Devanagari script because that would be a cementing bond for all the people of India.
SHRI BAJU BAN RIYAN: Khasi language should be included in the Eighth Schedule. In Tripura, Kok and Barak languages are spoken by indigenous tribal people. These should also be included in the Eighth Schedule. There was a Minority Linguistic Commission. They had made certain recommendations. The Government should think how these minority languages should be included in the Eighth Schedule.
SHRI SANSUMA KHUNGGUR BWISWMUTHIARY : The Bodo language is a very rich and ancient language. In the entire country about 90 lakh Bodo population speaks the Bodo language and throughout the whole globe about ten million Bodo population speaks the Bodo language. It is a great honour for the entire Bodo people of the whole world.
DR. GIRIJA VYAS : I welcome the inclusion of Bodo language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. Since the language of Rajasthan is also rich, I appeal that it should also be included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
SHRI V. DHANANJAYA KUMAR : It has been a long pending demand to include Tulu language in the Eighth Schedule. I request to include it.
SHRI KIRTI JHA AZAD : Maithili is an ancient language from historic and religious point of view. I thank the hon. Prime Minister on behalf of the people living in Mithila.
SHRI SALKHAN MURMU : Today, Bodo and Santhali languages, being spoken by tribals have been recognised. This will help in spreading education among tribals.
SHRI K. YERRANNAIDU : It is our earnest desire that Telugu language also be given the status of national official language. It is already there in the Eighth Schedule. We have to amend the article 351.
DR. RAGHUVANSH PRASAD SINGH : Now, there are 22 languages in the Eighth Schedule. Bhojpuri language is an international and rich and very famous language of the country. I request the Government to consider its inclusion in the Eighth Schedule.
SHRI RUPCHAND MURMU : Inclusion of Santhali language in the Eighth Schedule has been a long pending demand of our people. I thank the Government for considering it.
SHRI S.S. PALANIMANICKAM : I welcome this amendment. I also submit that Tamil must be declared as a classical language.
SHRI PRABHUNATH SINGH : Almost 20 crore people speak Bhojpuri language out of which 16 crore live in India. I want to know the criteria on which a language is included in the Eighth Schedule. Hon. Deputy Prime Minister should explain in his reply as to when he will include Bhojpuri in the Eighth Schedule.
DR. BIKRAM SARKAR : Rajbangshi language should also be considered for inclusion. I also support that Bhojpuri should also be included.
SHRI RASHID ALVI : I request the Government to recognise Urdu as second Official Language and include Persian in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
SHRI IQBAL AHMED SARADGI : I associate with him.
SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA : Santhali is a language which is spoken by about one crore Santhali tribal population, which fought for the freedom of our country. Today, their language is now being recognised and being included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
SHRI SATYAVRAT CHATURVEDI : Bundeli language has its own history and literature. This should also be included in the Eighth Schedule. My suggestion is that a Committee should be constituted consider the various dialects and languages of the country for inclusion in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
SHRI CHANDRAKANT KHAIRE : I thank the Government for giving justice to the Bodo language.
SHRI P.H. PANDIAN : I demand that Tamil should be declared as a ‘classical language’ and it should be included as an official language. It has got the richest tradition and rich literature. It is being spoken by about 10 crores of people in Tamil Nadu and all over India.
SHRI RAMJI LAL SUMAN : Brij is a rich language being spoken by crores of people. I request that this language be included in the Eighth Schedule.
SARDAR SIMRANJIT SINGH MANN : I support the Bill, but I also want the Pahadi language to be included in the Eighth Schedule from Himachal Pradesh.
SHRI BISHNU PADA RAY : I request that Nicobari tribal language and Koran language be included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE (PROF. CHAMAN LAL GUPTA) : Dogri is a language being spoken by crore of people. I thank the Government for including it in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE : It has been a long pending demand to include these language in the Eighth Schedule. This is a good decision of the Government. I request that the Government should also consider including Malbani language in the Eighth Schedule.
SHRI G.M. BANATWALLA : I request that more and more language be included in this Schedule. I also submit that Government should work for promotion of the languages already included in this Schedule.
THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND INCHARGE OF THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS AND MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS (SHRI L.K. ADVANI) replying to the discussion, said : I am thankful to the entire House for giving unanimous support to this important Bill. I would like to inform the House that at the time of framing of original Constitution in 1950, only 14 languages were given recognition in the Eighth Schedule. In the year 1967, Sindhi language was also included. Later on, in 1992, three more languages i.e. Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali were also included. There are 33 such languages for which demand is being made to be included in the Eighth Schedule. I assure the House that these languages shall also be included in near future.
The Bill was passed