Sit-in for constitutional recognition of Rajasthani planned

A Rajasthan-based group will launch a fresh round of agitation in the national capital seeking constitutional recognition of Rajasthani language for which it has registered the support of the state's MPs and MLAs.
The day-long dharna is being organised under the aegis of Rajasthani Bhasha Manyata Samiti on May 6, primarily to get the "Centre's attention" towards the issue.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi is promoting Hindi language. We want to tell him that if the Rajasthani language is given its due Hindi would be enriched as well," K C Malu, a member of the committee, said at a press conference here.

The members of the committee rued the fact that in spite of widespread support for including the language in the Eight Schedule of the Constitution, no steps were being taken in this regard.
"The Rajasthan Assembly had passed a unanimous resolution back in 2003 for insertion of Rajasthani in the Eight Schedule. Twelve years have passed but there has absolutely been no forward movement," Suresh Khandelwal, a senior member of the committee, said.
The organisation said that it had already received support from all the 25 MPs from the state after writing letters to them pressing for official recognition of the language.

"In spite of such overwhelming support among the public, the legislators have been rather inactive in this regard. But this time we have roped in their support and won't stop till our demands are met. Mere assurances won't work this time," he added.
They lamented that Rajasthani was not even the official "third language" in the state thus depriving students from learning their mother tongue.
"It is astonishing that our children are not getting to learn their mother tongue whereas even a country like Nepal officially recognises our language. Rajasthani legislators can't even speak in the language in the State Assembly," Malu said.