ANBA decries
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 27 2024: A drive allegedly carried out by members of the Meetei Erol Eyek Loinasillol Apunba Lup (MEELAL) at shops operat-ing in Imphal has drawn sharp criticism from the All Naga Business Association (ANBA), Imphal.

In a statement issued to the media today, ANBA said it has received numerous reports from Naga shopkeepers operating in Imphal about MEELAL members approaching them and demanding display of Meetei Mayek script on signboards in front of their shops.

Furthermore, the MEELAL executive members have been allegedly summoning these shopkeepers to their office for not displaying the Meetei Mayek script on their signboards, it said.

India recognizes many official local languages and scripts from various States, and are included in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution of India.

However, neither the State Government nor the Central Government, nor any civil society organization (CSO) has imposed any language or script as compulsory.

Such actions by MEELAL are arbitrary, unconstitutional, and amount to mental harassment, which is against the law of the land, said ANBA-Imphal.

Such actions could lead to misunderstandings and communal tensions among the various communities living in Manipur, it said, asking which Act or law has ever mandated compulsory display of a particular script on signboards, advertisements or banners.

ANBA said MEELAL and parties concerned should stop disturbing Naga shopkeepers.

It also sought the attention of the Chief Minister for immediate intervention to address the situation.

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