New Delhi, Dec 22: Carrying forward the Bodo peace initiative, the Lok Sabha today unanimously approved an amendment in the Constitution to recognise Bodo language besides including Maithili, Santhali and Dogri languages in the 8th Schedule.
The Constitution (one hundredth amendment) Bill, 2003, was passed after all the 338 members present in the Lok Sabha voted in favour.
Moving the bill for inclusion of Bodo language in the 8th schedule, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani said it was being done "in pursuance of memorandum of settlement between Bodos, Assam government and government of India... It was part of settlement to include Bodo language."
Referring to amendments moved by Priyaranjan Dasmunsi (Cong) and Basudev Acharia (CPM), Advani said three other languages -- Santhali, Maithili and Dogri-- were being included in the 8th Schedule.
The bill triggered off a spate of demand from members from different states cutting across the party line, to include their respective languages in the 8th Schedule which lists 18 languages. Bureau Report