Mizos upset over rejection of language Bill

The people of Mizoram have expressed anguish over the rejection of a constitutional amendment Bill to include Mizo language in the 8th Schedule.The amendment bill, moved in the Parliament by Lalhmingliana, the lone Rajya Sabha member from Mizoram on Friday last was rejected by the upper house after summary discussion.Lalhmingliana staged a walkout during the discussion on his Bill accusing the Centre of being indifferent towards the people of the Northeast region and the bill was defeated in his absence.

Union Minister of State for Home Shriprakash Jaiswal, while replying to Lalhminghliana in the Rajya Sabha, turned down the bill saying that the UPSC did not want any more languages to be included in the 8th schedule.
Cutting across party lines, politicians in Mizoram have expressed displeasure over the rejection of the bill as the State legislature had unanimously passed a resolution in 1991 urging the Centre to include Mizo language in the eighth schedule.

Prof. Laltluangliana Khiangte, head of Mizo department in the Mizoram University commented that while Mizo language deserves to be included in the 8th schedule of the constitution, rejection of the bill clearly showed indifference towards the people of Mizoram.Lalthangfala Sailo, president of the Mizo Academy of letters also regarded the rejection of the bill as the Centre’s refusal to welcome the Mizos into the mainstream.

“During the Mizoram insurgency period, the Indian Government repeatedly urged us to join the national mainstream,” Sailo said, adding “inclusion of the Mizo language is one important step towards joining the so-called mainstream”.

Young Mizo Association (YMA), the largest organisation in the State had also adopted a resolution in its general assembly held in 1997 urging both the Central and Mizoram Governments to include Mizo in the 8th schedule and had also brought the attention of the then Prime Ministers IK Gujral and AB Vajpayee during their visits to Mizoram.

Muante-a, a college teacher said that by rejecting the bill, the Indian government played right into the hands of few Mizo separatist elements who objected the passage of the bill on the ground that “adoption of the bill would bring the Mizos into the mainstream.”

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