THE state secretariat of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), in a statement issued on February 11, has demanded that the Jharkhand Gazette (Extraordinary) dated December 27 issued by the government of Jharkhand in relation to the tribal and regional languages ​​of the state by order of the governor be kept on hold and an all-party meeting be convened to discuss this issue.

This notification published by the Jharkhand government has created confusion in the state and some organisations have started fanning their divisive agenda by making irresponsible statements in relation to regional languages. The Hemant government has also undemocratically issued the gazette in haste without having extensive discussion with the various political parties and social organisations, thereby giving an opportunity to the elements creating division among the people of the state on the question of language. As lakhs of unemployed youth of the state are uncertain about their future due to lack of employment opportunities, it has provided the divisive forces with a fertile ground to carry forward their agenda.

The CPI (M) has always been in favour of the formation of the states on the basis of language. In Jharkhand too, there is a seven-point guideline for official purposes including employment, on which the Jharkhand government had also issued a notification in the year 2007, but it was not implemented properly in Jharkhand. CPI(M) calls for its proper implementation.

The CPI(M) has a clear understanding that the main regional languages, including the tribal languages ​​of Jharkhand, should be protected, as well as the education of these languages ​​from the primary classes and the staff having adequate knowledge of the local language in the area where it is spoken by the majority of the people be recruited. But the party opposes the divisive activities among the people here on the basis of language.

In this background, the state secretariat of CPI(M) demands the state government to immediately adjourn the Jharkhand Gazette regarding  language and convene an all-party meeting to discuss it immediately so that a consensus can be reached on this issue in the interest of the state. The CPI(M) also demands the state government to define domicile in Jharkhand at the earliest and formulate an employment  policy for the state.