For Comment on Devanagari LGR

In reviewing the draft LGR for Bengali, the IP noted that the NeoB GP has opted to not include the VISARGA as a variant between these two scripts. However the Bengali VISARGA is not listed in Appendix B of the Devanagari LGR proposal, while VISARGAs for other scripts are listed.

This make the intent of the NeoB GP with relation to the Devanagari vs. Bengali VISARGA somewhat ambiguous.

Because Bengali and Devanagari share at least one consonant variant, the Bengali VISARGA could be used to form labels that are only distinct by the small difference in shape between the two VISARGAs (two closed vs. two open circles). If the GP asserts that this distinction is enough to prevent the kind of security issues normally addressed by variants, then this should be documented, perhaps by including the Bengali VISARGA in Appendix B.

Otherwise, if the GP feels on review, that this code point represents a security issue, it could be added back to the list of cross-script variants.

The IP would like to encourage the NeoB GP to review the issue and to make the appropriate modifications to the documentation or specification of the Devanagari LGR (and to ensure that the Bengali LGR is matches when finalized).

- Integration Panel

PS: the IP notes that the GP very properly does not consider cross-script variants for cases where only combining marks have a shared form.