Imphal: The Manipur Government has appealed to the Campaign for Justice and Fair Delimitation (JFD) to withdraw its agitation calling for the closure of Central and State government offices over the demand for updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
Government spokespersons MLA Th. Radheshyam Singh and MLA Dr. Sapam Ranjan Singh made the appeal during a press meet at the Durbar Hall of the Chief Minister’s Secretariat in Imphal on Sunday.
Radheshyam said the State Government is aware of the JFD’s demand and that the people of Manipur also want the NRC to be conducted before the Census.
He said the 8th session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly had reaffirmed its earlier resolution calling for the NRC to be conducted before the Census, while Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh had conveyed the demand to the Centre.
He added that the issue of fixing 1951 as the base year for the NRC was discussed in the Assembly on the final day of the recently concluded session and had subsequently been conveyed to the Union Home Ministry.
Radheshyam said the agitation calling for the closure of government offices could lead to undesirable incidents and disrupt the functioning of the State Government, while causing further inconvenience to the public.
He appealed to the JFD not to intensify or prolong its agitation, saying that continued disruptions could add to the difficulties faced by people in the state.
“Give peace a chance in Manipur,” Radheshyam appealed, urging the public to support the government’s efforts to restore normalcy.
The government spokespersons also clarified that Manipur Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam and several MLAs have been camping in New Delhi for the past few days to press the Centre on the demand for an NRC based on 1951.
They expressed hope that the Centre would act in accordance with the wishes of the people of Manipur.
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