UKAL bans Omar from writing books

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Nov 2

Umanglai Kanba Apunba Lup (UKAL) has today extended support to the plan to torch copies of a controversial book by Omar Khanglem portrayed “The writers of Mahabharata and Ramayana as the Real Religious Scientists”.

In a press meet held today at its Konung Mamang office, convener to the religious organisation, Mutum Manaoton said that every book regarding religion and Manipuri cultural tradition should be proofread and screened properly before publishing. A book without screening should not be published again in the future, he added.

He also urged the government and other concerned authorities to set up a book screening committee so that such confusion would not be committed again in the future.

An agreement was signed between UKAL and the writer, Omar Singh Wangkhem and his family members before the press today. In the agreement, the writer agreed not to write and publish any more books in the future. If he at all wants to write another book, he also agreed to consult the organisation formally before doing so.

The agreement also required the writer to apologise to the public through the media both electronic and print for five consecutive days.

Secretary general of the organisation, Ingba Mangang Yumnamcha added that the author of this book should collect all the 1000 copies that have been published before destroying the book.

He said that Omar himself should collect all the books including the copies exported outside the state

Manipuri Students’ Federation (MSF) had also banned the book and declared all copies of it would be torched on November 4.