|
Language crisis : Dailies shut shop on script row |
 |
The ongoing campaign in Manipur against the Bengali script has snowballed into a major issue with all Imphal-based dailies deciding to suspend publication indefinitely in protest against the diktat to use only the Meitei script on their front pages.
The Meitei Erol Eyek Loinasillon Apunba Lup had set March 10 as the deadline for language newspapers to print front-page news in the Meitei script. The previous deadline was March 1.
Activists of the organisation snatched copies of newspapers from distribution outlets and hawkers and warned them against circulating any language daily that does not change to the Meitei script immediately.
Publishers and distributors converged on the Manipur Press Club conference hall later and decided to suspend publication with immediate effect. The meeting perceived the act of snatching copies of newspapers and the imposition of a ban by the Meitei Erol Eyek Loinasillon Apunba Lup as a ‘direct assault‘ on the freedom of the Press.
‘The meeting supports the campaign for a Meitei script, but the decision to impose it on newspapers is untimely and undemocratic,‘ a resolution adopted at the meeting stated.
At least 200 members of the media, including editors, publishers and reporters, marched through the thoroughfares of Imphal after the meeting.
Apart from language dailies, the Meitei Erol Eyek Loinasillon Apunba Lup has been demanding the replacement of the Bengali script with the Meitei one in all textbooks and Manipuri publications. Lakhs of textbooks collected from educational institutions and book stalls have already been set ablaze.
|
