Manipur women vendors continue agitation, demand gazette notification on NRC implementation

Women vendors of Khwairamband Ima Market in Manipur have decided to continue their agitation demanding the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state, saying the protest will continue until the Registrar General of India (RGI) issues a gazette notification on the matter.

The vendors have been supporting the ongoing agitation led by the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation. As part of the movement, they began a sit-in protest at the market on Monday, August 31, and also spent the night at the protest site.

Addressing the media on the sidelines of the protest, vendor Asem Nirmala said people in the state were not opposed to the census but wanted the NRC to be implemented before the exercise.

She questioned the reported decision to defer the census in Manipur, saying it was "surprising" that state leaders expressed happiness over the announcement without any mention of the NRC.

"We don't oppose the census. Our prime concern is to implement the NRC before the census," she said.

Nirmala said the women vendors had halted their daily economic activities to participate in the agitation despite the impact on their livelihoods.

She said people were willing to face difficulties and give up their daily income because they considered protecting the future of Manipur more important.

The vendor alleged that the presence of illegal immigrants had affected the constitutional rights of the indigenous people of the state.

She said the agitation would continue until the RGI issued a gazette notification for the implementation of the NRC in Manipur.

Meanwhile, the BJP Manipur Pradesh welcomed Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh upon his return to Imphal from Delhi on Tuesday.

Speaking at the reception, BJP Manipur president and Rajya Sabha MP A Sharda Devi said the Centre understood the sentiments of the people of Manipur.

She said the Centre had decided to defer the census in the state following a meeting involving Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Minister Khemchand and others.

Sharda Devi said there was a procedure to be followed before issuing a gazette notification and asserted that even if the notification could not be issued immediately, an official statement on the matter would be made.

She said the BJP Manipur Pradesh had been taking steps from time to time in the interest of the people of the state and would continue to work for their welfare.