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Manipur : Conflict over script |
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The militant outfits have said they will be targeting ministers and legislators on the issue of introducing Meitei script to replace Bengali in school textbooks.
Consultations with experts have begun in right earnest and the government is planning to announce a policy (on the script switch issue) very soon. Replacement of a scri-pt could not be done overnight. All things will have to be taken into consideration,’ Ibobi Singh.
The Chief Minister’s promise to announce a policy came two days ahead of the deadline set by the proscribed Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP). Issuing ‘death threats’ to legislators, the outfit warned that it would start targeting ministers and MLAs from Sunday if the Ibobi Singh government did not resolve the script issue by April.
Sources said the Ibobi Singh Government took the threat very seriously and the Chief Minister instructed all the MLAs to be extra cautious while making tours. He also instructed the Home Department to take all possible measures to foil any plan to target the legislators. Reports said ministers have started curtailing their movement.
Without mentioning the rebel threat, the Chief Minister said Manipur, being a state where different ethnic groups were living together, sentiments of other communities would not be ignored while trying to introduce the Meitei script. “The pros and cons will have to be looked into properly before taking any concrete decision. The imposition of the script on other communities without consulting them would hurt sentiments.”
The Chief Minister said the Government would discuss with student leaders of different communities, particularly tribal students, before taking the plunge.
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