The voice of Hynniewtrep will echo in Parliament, because languages in the Eighth Schedule are allowed to speak in their own language.
Dr DRL Nonglait, NPP candidate for Shillong LS bypoll
Jowai, Oct 23: If Khasi gets included in Eighth Schedule, NPP’s Shillong Lok Sabha bypoll candidate Dr DRL Nonglait, if elected, will speak in Khasi in the Parliament.
Nonglait made the promise while expressing his commitment to push for three pending resolutions of Meghalaya Assembly – Khasi language in Eighth Schedule, implementation of ILP and protection against uranium mining – in the Parliament, if elected.
“When Khasi becomes an official language and gets into Eighth Schedule, even our small dialects in Pnar, Ri-Bhoi, Lyngam and War will get funding for research from different institutions. They will grow and make Hynniewtrep Hynniewskum a community rich in languages,” Nonglait said during a campaign rally at Mihmyntdu near Jowai on Thursday night.
He informed that the Ministry of Information and Technology is already working on a translation project.
“The ministry has formed a committee. The project will allow Khasi to be translated through modern technology into all Eighth Schedule languages. It is being done with Government of India and state government collaboration,” he said.
“Once this is done and Khasi is in Eighth Schedule, if you elect me, I will go to Delhi and speak in Khasi in Parliament. The voice of Hynniewtrep will echo in Parliament, because languages in the Eighth Schedule are allowed to speak in their own language,” he said.
Nonglait said Khasi has already become equal to English and Garo in the state after NPP made it a full official language in 2026.
“We have laid the foundation stone in history. Under MDA led by Conrad Sangma, Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar, we brought the official language law. Now notifications, letters can be written in Khasi. But the remaining work is in Delhi,” he said.
On ILP and uranium, he said, “All parties in state have agreed with NPP to urge Centre to implement ILP in Meghalaya. We need to monitor the entry of outsiders so they do not dominate or destroy our environment. Similarly, the Assembly opposed uranium mining at Domiasiat in West Khasi Hills. Uranium is tempting but dangerous for a small state like ours. These three are people’s resolutions and need no debate.”
Tracing his bond with Mihmyntdu since 2015 when he spoke on ‘Akor’ at a Presbyterian Synod seminar, Nonglait said the village is special as the origin of Myntdu river.
“Myntdu is not just a river, it serves Jowai with drinking water, surrounds the town, flows to Ialong, Tuber, Leshka where it creates the Leshka Power Project. It can power many districts and surplus can be sold. Its service is immeasurable. It inspired my spirit to serve,” he said.
Explaining his slogan, he said, “I am from a rural area, started small, struggled to come to Shillong for studies, worked, taught in school, college, university. After long thought and advice from elders including Prof Lamin here, I accepted NPP’s offer. This is not my opportunity but people’s opportunity to serve.”
“My vision is three words – to improve, to enlighten and to build – to serve people, protect people and bring development,” Nonglait said, adding that Shillong also has many poor families and youth without jobs who need attention.
‘Vote on performance, not propaganda’
Cabinet Minister and Jowai MLA Wailadmiki Shylla has made an appeal to the voters to cast their votes on performance, not propaganda.
“Dr Nonglait is highly educated and socially active,” the NPP leader said while addressing a campaign rally for NPP’s Shillong Lok Sabha bypoll candidate Dr DRL Nonglait at Mihmyntdu under Jowai constituency on Thursday night.
Videos of government works and development brought by him as MLA were screened at the meeting.
“See and judge by actions. Some groups only criticize that the government does nothing. But work is visible on the ground,” Shylla said.
He alleged that rivals want Jowai and Nartiang MLAs to fail.
“Some people want MLAs of Nartiang and Jowai to fail because we work hard to meet public needs,” he said.
Listing his own record, he said, “As a normal MLA, I brought many development projects. Now as minister you will see more development coming.”
Shylla said voters made a mistake last time by electing an MP who remained neutral.
“We elected an MP from another party who was alone, not with government nor opposition, neutral in the middle. How can such MPs effectively voice issues?” he said.
Calling NPP a true tribal party, he said, “NPP is a regional party that became a national party. Those who say no indigenous party is left are wrong. NPP was born in Meghalaya. Even people from other NE states have to come here to meet high command. So vote for NPP candidate Dr Nonglait.”
The meeting was attended by Deputy CM Sniawbhalang Dhar, MLAs Comingone Ymbon, Santa Mary Shylla and JHADC and KHADC MDCs.
