English remains vital in North East: Conrad Sangma

Our Correspondent
Kohima | June 28

Meghalaya Chief Minister and National People’s Party (NPP) National President Conrad K Sangma on Friday said that English continues to remain vital for the North Eastern states.

Responding to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent remarks on the use of English and promotion of Indian languages, Sangma clarified that Shah’s statement had two aspects. “The first was to promote Indian languages—not just Hindi, but all regional languages,” he said.

Addressing a press conference in Kohima after attending the NPP Nagaland State Executive Committee meeting on June 27, Sangma expressed agreement with this approach, stating that states should continue promoting their respective local languages. However, on the issue of English, he stressed that it remains essential in the region, including in states like Meghalaya and Nagaland.

“Our Assembly proceedings are conducted in English, and English is our official language. Therefore, states like Meghalaya and most other states in the North East use English as a primary medium,” he stated.

He asserted that English cannot be removed from the system, as it plays a key role in global competitiveness—particularly in the IT sector and the international workforce.

“We are proud of the fact that we have a good English-speaking society,” Sangma said, adding that this plays an important role in terms of the manpower the region contributes to the rest of the world.

On the recent travel advisory issued by the United States against travelling to North-Eastern states, Sangma said he would be meeting with the concerned embassy through the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi.

He said it was his duty to present the full facts and that “it is the government’s responsibility to meet them, explain the situation, and work towards lifting that advisory.”

“We have seen in the recent past that the US embassy issued an advisory, particularly with reference to the state of Meghalaya. We feel it is very unfortunate that Meghalaya has been branded in that manner,” he said.

Referring to the initial public reaction, he added: “In the beginning, when narratives and reactions started coming in, and people were blaming safety in Meghalaya, it was a matter of great concern for us. Not only Meghalaya, but the entire North-East began to be branded as unsafe.”

He termed the development as “very unfortunate.”