MP Sanajaoba Leishemba dismay over excluding Manipuri in approval of Classical language status, MPCC seeks clarification

Imphal: Manipur titular king and Rajya Sabha MP Maharaja Leishemba Sanajaoba expressed his pain over not recognising Manipuri in the Classical language status.

Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee has sought clarification from the competent authority on the issue.

“I am very EMOTIONAL & SHOCKED today.

Union Cabinet has approved Recognition of Five more Languages – Assamese, Bengali, Marathi, Pali & Prakrit as CLASSICAL. I have been trying to include our Manipuri Language in the Classical Status for the last 4/5 years but due to lack of POLITICAL PRESSURE, LOBBY & INACTIVE from our side, we have lost a golden chance this time,” Sanajaoba posted on his Facebook wall.

“Very very emotional today, but I will keep trying my level best to include my mother language in the status of Classical till my last day of Tenure. Seeking cooperation of all the concerns to succeed this attempt.”

Sanajaoba sought cooperation of ‘all the concerns to succeed this attempt’.

Former Manipur chief minister and CLP leader O. Ibobi Singh said, “We have high expectation that Manipuri language would be recognised as a Classical language as we believe that our language fulfils the criteria for the status.”

Manipuri language is in the 8th Schedule list. The Manipuri culture, tradition and language is 3000 years old. Concerning culture, Nat Sankritan of the state was given recognition by UNESCO, he added.

Ibobi was speaking to reporters at Congress Bhawan, here on Friday.

“The state government too is a BJP government. The double engine government might know it better. We have heard that the state had recommended the language and MP Rajya Sabha Leishemba Sanajaoba was putting his effort to include in the Classical language status,” he said.

The competent authority need to give a clarification to convince the people if the criteria for Manipur to be recognised as Classical language is not fulfilled, he demanded.

He welcomed the inclusion of the five languages in the Classical language status. He asked if Centre has no concern of the language and people of the state.