Inclusion of Bhojpuri language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution to give it official status would be announced in the next session, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said in the Lok Sabha on Thursday.
“We will consider the two reports (by Sitakant Mahapatra Committee and UPSC on the issue) expeditiously. We will be announcing a decision in the Monsoon Session,” he said as members from all sides made a fervent plea for a speedy decision in the matter.
Mr. Chidambaram’s announcement came after a discussion on a Calling Attention motion on the issue, as several members belonging to BJP, SP, BSP, RJD, JD(U) and some other parties, trooped into the Well, urging Speaker Meira Kumar, who has also been promoting the cause, to direct the government to announce a time-frame for a decision.
Initially, the Home Minister had said that it would be his endeavour to give the “good news” on the issue “as early as possible”, and he even spoke a few words in Bhojpuri in an apparent message that he was sympathetic to their cause.
“I understand your feelings”, he said in Bhojpuri with Congress member Sanjay Nirupam’s help. Mr. Nirupam was also in support of the inclusion. But this did not satisfy the agitated members, who wanted a firmer assurance.
The Minister made the statement after a hurried discussion with Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, all of whom were sitting in the front row of the Treasury Benches.
The Speaker said she was happy that the Home Minister “has not spoken in Hindi but in Bhojpuri, even though it is difficult for him to speak in Hindi. He has said he would take an expeditious decision and I hope that he would return (to the House) soon”.
The Calling Attention was moved by Congress member Jagdambika Pal, Shailendra Kumar (both Samajwadi Party), Raghuvansh Prasad Singh and Umashanker Singh (both Rashtriya Janata Dal), saying the “rich” language was spoken not just in India but in several other countries by 20-25 crore people.
In response to the notice, Mr. Chidambaram said while 22 languages were already included in the Eighth Schedule, representations for inclusion of 38 more have been received over the years.
Noting that there was “no established set of criteria” for inclusion of languages in the Eighth schedule, Mr. Chidambaram said a committee was set up under the chairmanship of Sitakant Mahapatra on the issue which had submitted its report in 2004 but a final decision was yet to be taken.
In 2006, proposals to include Rajasthani and Bhojpuri languages were also received. “The inclusion of a language in the Eighth Schedule has, at present, a direct link to the examinations conducted by the UPSC,” he said, adding that it was then decided that the matter be “deferred till a decision is taken by the government on the issue of UPSC exams.”
The UPSC also set up a high-level panel to examine the issue. The panel recommended that the conduct of UPSC examinations be delinked from the inclusion of languages in the Eighth Schedule, he said, adding that its report was received in March this year and now under consideration of the Department of Personnel and Training, Mr. Chidambaram said.
Jagdambika Pal said it was not correct to keep the decision on an important matter pending for a long time.
“Eight years have passed since Sitakant Mahapatra committee submitted its report. ...How long can the issue be kept pending by linking it to the UPSC exams?”
Shailendra Kumar wanted to know whether the UPSC conducted its exams in all the 22 languages recognised by the Constitution, calling it “only an alibi.”
Umashanker Singh said the Speaker had herself been actively promoting the language and urged her to direct the government to take an expeditious and time-bound decision.
