Imphal, Jul 10: Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, has expressed strong resentment against the diktat of MEELAL to erase the Meetei/Meitei Mayek (scripts) written at the uppermost portion of the signboard of its office.

Addressing a press conference at the Parishad office here today, its, spokesman Manindra Konsam informed that three MEELAL activists had come to the office on July 8 at around 11 am and demanded removal of the line written in Meetei/Meitei Mayek on the uppermost portion of the signboard contending it is the 36-letter script.

Established in 1935, the Parishad has been playing a pivotal role in developing Manipuri language and its literature and had never opposed any movement for the popularisation of the original script of the Manipuri people, Manindra said, adding that the Parishad welcomes the steps taken up by the Government to prescribe text books written in Meetei Mayek from class I to II.

However, he said, the manner in which the MEELAL activists are acting as a law enforcing agency towards implementation of the scripts approved by the Government is not on the right track.

Asserting that the 27-letter scripts have been taken out from the 36-letter script, Manindra said just as the State Govt had taken the decision to introduce Meetei/Meitei Mayek, it would also take up the responsibility of the Govt to implement and popularise the script.

In such a situation, organisations which are working for the popularisation of the original script like MEELAL should exert pressure on the Govt in a democratic manner so as to implement the script fully.

The line in Meetei/Meitei script on the signboard of the Parishad had been written by the pioneering literary figures who dedicated their lives for the evolution of a new Manipur, Manindra said, adding that the said line in question had at no point of time caused inconveniences to the activities of MEELAL.

He also expressed hope that MEELAL activists would not target the Parishad in future just on the basis of the said one line on the signboard.

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