Decision on Bhojpuri in Monsoon Session,says Chidambaram

We will consider the two reports (by Sitakant Mahapatra Committee and UPSC on the issue) expeditiously.

Conceding to pressure from MPs,mostly from eastern UP and Bihar,on giving official recognition to Bhojpuri language,Home Minister P Chidambaram on Thursday told the Lok Sabha that the government would hopefully come with good news by the next session of Parliament.

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, said Chidambaram,after several MPs from Bhojpuri-speaking areas asked that the long overdue demand to include Bhojpuri under the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution be met.

Chidambaram earlier read out a statement in which he said a decision could not be taken since the UPSC committee was seized of the matter. He said his endeavour would be to give good news on the subject as early as possible and even spoke a few words in Bhojpuri to show that he was sympathetic to the cause. However,it was only after Chidambaram agreed to assure to come out with a decision in the next session that protesting MPs,who trooped to the well of the House,returned to their seats.

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The issue was raised by Congress MP Jagdambika Pal who moved a calling attention motion along with Shailendra Kumar (SP),Raghuvansh Prasad Singh and Umashanker Singh (both RJD),saying the rich language was spoken not just in India but in several other countries,by 20-25 crore people.

Pal said it was not correct to keep a decision on the issue pending for a long time. He said,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,on his part,wanted to know whether the UPSC conducted its exams in all the 22 languages recognised by the Constitution,calling it only an alibi.

In response to the notice,Chidambaram said while 22 languages were already included in the Eighth Schedule,representations for inclusion of 38 more have been received over the years.

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He noted that there was no established set of criteria for inclusion of languages in the Eighth Schedule and added that a committee was set up under the chairmanship of Sitakant Mahapatra,which submitted its report in 2004 but a final decision was yet to be taken.

He said while proposals to include Rajasthani and Bhojpuri in the Eighth Schedule were received in 2006,since it had a direct bearing on UPSC examinations,the matter was being deferred for the time being. He added that UPSC has also set up a high-level panel to examine the issue.

However,when MPs refused to relent,Chidambaram held hurried consultations with Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and announced

that a decision would be taken by the next session of Parliament.