Imphal, July 28: Apunba Meetei Mayek Sandokpa Amasung Hinghanba Lup, (AMMSAHL), Kangleipak has resolved to launch a series of intense agitations including stalling of the ongoing Assembly session, if both the Opposition and the Ruling are not going to bring their heads together and passed the private members' bill, The Manipur Official Language (Amendment) Bill, 2003 and gave their unanimous approval for setting up of a separate directorate of development of Meeteilon and Meetei Mayek under the Department of Education.

Announcing this at a press conference held at State Guest House, Sanjenthong here today, president of the Mayek body Chingsubam Akaba said that non-tabling of the Private Member Bill and the Private Member Resolution on the issue for discussion in the House was very unfortunate and it was a harsh blow to those organization and people who are dedicating their lives towards preservation of cultural identity of the State and development of the scripts.

The Private Member Bill on amendment of the Manipur Official Language Bill, 2002 and the Private Member Resolution for a unanimous resolution of the House for establishment of a separate Directorate of Development of Meeteilon and Meetei Mayek under the department of Education and to allot an annual budget of not less than Rs 20 crores for the same purpose, were included in the Business list of the session on July 25, but before they could be discussed, the House had been adjourned following the confrontation between the Opposition members and the Speaker.

Referring to clause (f) of section 2 of the Manipur Official Language Act, 1979, where Manipur language has been described as 'Manipuri language written in Bengali scripts', Akaba pointed out the necessity for substituting the phrase by Meiteilon written in Meetei scripts (Meetei Mayek).

Though Bengali scripts has been in used for writing for more than 200 years, it is not the original and genuine scripts of the Manipuri language and have been imposed on the people, but now the Meetei Mayek has become popular and started teaching in the schools since 1983, Akaba said.

Non-insertion of Manipuri scripts in the Indian currency note inspite of inclusion in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution of India is also due to the existing section 2 (f) of the Act.