Imphal: The demand for the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) 1951 gathered momentum on Monday as thousands of people from different parts of Manipur assembled in Imphal to stage a mass protest.
The rally was organised by 14 CSOs Kangleipak, a coalition of 14 civil society organisations. Protesters demanded that the NRC 1951 be updated and implemented before the commencement of the census exercise in the state.
Participants raised slogans and displayed placards carrying messages such as “Do not neglect Manipur,” “No NRC Update, No Census,” “NRC is the only solution to save our indigenous people,” “Nominate an agency from Manipur for the High-Power Committee,” and “Update NRC 1951 before the census.”
People from various communities, including Meiteis, Nagas and Meitei Pangals, took part in the rally. Amid tight security arrangements, the procession began from Tiddim Road and later converged at THAU Ground in Imphal West, where a public meeting was held.
Speaking to reporters, 14 CSOs Kangleipak convenor Shanta Nahakpam said the rally was organised to press for NRC implementation in Manipur, a demand that he claimed has been consistently ignored by the Government of India.
“The Government of India, particularly the BJP-led government, has repeatedly highlighted the issue of illegal immigrants during elections in states such as Assam and West Bengal. However, the concerns of Manipur have largely been ignored,” Nahakpam alleged.
He further stated that the Government of India has recently issued a gazette notification constituting a High-Power Committee to study the causes of demographic changes in various states and submit its findings to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs within a year.
According to Nahakpam, Manipur presents a unique case because of its porous international border and the existence of various Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreements and peace arrangements with different armed groups.
“The 2005 SoO agreement with Kuki armed groups, which the people of Manipur have repeatedly urged the government to review or cancel, is one of the reasons why we are demanding a proper NRC process. An updated NRC would pave the way for an accurate delimitation exercise and help safeguard the political and constitutional rights of the indigenous people of the state,” he said.
Nahakpam maintained that if the Government of India continues to ignore the demand for NRC implementation and limits its response to measures such as the proposed High-Power Committee, the state government should nominate a dedicated agency to independently study demographic changes in Manipur.
“Unlike Assam, Meghalaya or West Bengal, the issue in Manipur is not limited to illegal immigration from Bangladesh. It also involves challenges arising from the porous Myanmar border and concerns related to narco-terrorism, which the people have been confronting for years,” he added.
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