Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 24:
Reiterating that the agitation to demand the introduction of Meetei Mayek in place of Bengali script will continue unabated, MEELAL today said that despite the arrest of its leader Akaba, there will be not let up in its agitation.
In a statement, MEELAL made it clear that their agitation is not in any away against the Bengali community and their action should not be seen as burning Bengali scripts but burning Manipuri books written in Bengali script.
A transcribe committee under Tokpam Thawailemba has been formed, said MEELAL and added that once the transcription work of all books written in Bengali script to Meetei Mayek is over, MEELAL will be ready to hand over the same to the students free of cost.
Setting the record straight, the statement said that every sort of agitation has been launched from before including distributing leaflets inside the Assembly, raising slogans inside the Assembly, using Meetei Mayek on all boards of shops and on number plates, but till date the Govt has not deemed it fit to introduce the Mayek in the school syllabus.
Mayek activists have also been giving free classes to students and there is no question of holding any DPC for recruiting the teachers as the work was done voluntarily.
No assistance was given by the Govt and no aid was asked too, said the statement.
Though the State Assembly approved the use Mayek in 1979 and even came out with a Govt gazette in 1980, nothing has been done in the last 27/28 years, said MEELAL.