In a press conference held on Thursday at the community hall of South Barak Development Organisation located at Binnakandi of Lakhipur sub-division, Cachar district, Assam, MLPCC declared its support to the demands made by various Manipuri bodies in Assam on pushing the Assam government to adopt Manipuri language as one of the associate official languages in Assam.

Speaking to  media persons, chairman of MLPCC, KN Chand said that the Assam government had granted permission to include Manipuri language as a subject for Lower Primary Level in Assam in the year 1956. Later, in the year 1979, the Assam government allowed Manipuri language as a medium in writing the Class-X board examination and further under the Guwahati University, Manipuri language was included in BA Course in Assam, he added.

Chand reiterated that Assam government’s notice issued on August 5, 2019 said the candidates need to score 300 marks at the language qualifying papers (Bengali and Bodo) for Combined Competitive Examination conducted by APSC.

He further said that opposing the policy made by the government, the matter was discussed with chief minister of Assam, governor of Assam, deputy speaker, MLAs and other leaders including the opposition leaders on December 5, 2019. During the discussion, it was pointed out that if Bengali and Bodo languages are mandatory for students, then Manipuri language should also be considered to include in the academics for the welfare and opportunities of students who have taken Manipuri language in their academics, he added.

The press conference was also attended by vice-chairmen of MLPCC, Abraham Nandababu (retired ACS) and Kangabam Shanti Kumar (retired ACS); chief advisor of Assam Manipuri Muslim Youth Front (AMMYF), Ahamed Choudury; president of Assam Manipuri Meira Paibi Apunba Lup (AMMPAL), A Lily Singh and its vice-president, Sanathoi Devi; convener of MLPCC, Ashangbam Sawapen Singha; and president of Manipuri Youth Front Assam (MYFA), Seram Herajit Singha.