MEELAL's directive to inscribe number plates with MM draws flaks
ANSAM, TYCM strike firm stand
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 25 2026:
The All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM) and Tribal Youth Council Manipur (TYCM) have rejected the recent directive issued by the Meetei Erol Eyek Loinasilloi Apunba Lup (MEELAL), which mandates the compulsory inscription of vehicle registration numbers in Meetei Mayek across the State.
ANSAM, in a statement, said that the directive is an 'egregious imposition - illogical in reasoning, Constitutionally infirm in substance, and democratically indefensible in principle' .
It constitutes not cultural renaissance but coercive particularism, the Association said referring to MEELAL's directive and urged the Government of Manipur to intervene forthwith and uphold the Constitutional covenant of justice, plurality, and coequal citizenship before the situation deteriorates further.
Asserting that no organization has the right to arrogate to itself the authority to impose the linguistic emblem of one community upon the entire pluralistic and heterogeneous society, ANSAM reasoned that Manipur is an intricate civilisational mosaic, inhabited by numerous indige- nous communities, each endowed with its own venerable linguistic heritage and cultural sovereignty.
The imposition of a singular script upon all communities is a direct affront to identity, dignity, and the Constitutional guarantees safeguarding equality and cultural freedom, it said.
ANSAM further stated that such unilateral insistence undermines the federal spirit and disrupts the delicate balance upon which democratic coexistence depends.
Emphasising that Manipur remains in a state of acute fragility, having endured numerous unwanted and painful incidents driven by perceptions of cultural domination, ANSAM argued that resurrecting and rigidly pushing forward this contentious mandate at such a sensitive and precarious time is profoundly unwise.
It portends misunderstanding, exacerbates co- mmunal fissures, and imperils the already fragile peace process amidst prevailing turmoil, ANSAM said and added that it will not accept and any illogical or unconstitutional demand emanating from any organisation that infringes upon the inalienable rights and collective identity of the Nagas and the tribal populace as a whole.
MEELAL must bear the moral and civic responsibility for the ramifications of its unilateral action should any dire consequences arise from this insistence, ANSAM cautioned.
Separately, TYCM has asserted that MEELAL's "imposition" should not be extended to vehicle owners belonging to the tribal communities of Manipur.
In a press release, TYCM expressed deep disappointment over MEELAL's statement that passenger service and private vehicle owners who violate the instruction will be held liable for any untoward consequences.
It is unacceptable to the tribal people of the State, said TYCM .
It further reasoned that even the Government of India has not mandated Devanagari script for license plate numbers.
TYCM has advised MEELAL to move forward in a manner which does not adversely affect other communities of Manipur at this critical juncture and in the future.
It further cautioned that different communities coexist in Manipur, and any initiative carried out in a manner adversely affecting other communities may cause misunderstanding and disrupt the peaceful coexistence and harmony of the State.
While TYCM fully acknowledges and respects the initiative of promoting and preserving the Meetei Mayek script carried out by MEELAL; it should not suppress the rights and liberty of the tribal communities of Manipur, it declared.
TYCM has cautioned that MEELAL should be held solely responsible if any unwanted incident occurs to any vehicle owner belonging to a tribal community in Manipur due to such "imposition" by the organization.
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