Census protests intensify in Manipur amid demands for NRC and immigrant identification

Tensions surrounding the proposed census exercise in Manipur escalated on Tuesday, March 17 as a large number of protestors attempted to march towards the Directorate of Census at Porompat, demanding the suspension of the enumeration process until key concerns are addressed.

The protest, organised under the banner of the 'Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation', saw demonstrators rallying in significant numbers before being stopped by security forces en route to the Census office. While the crowd was prevented from proceeding further, a small delegation of JFD representatives was allowed to meet officials at the Directorate.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, JFD executive member Sunil Karam expressed strong reservations over the timing and methodology of the census exercise. He said the organisation has been consistently demanding the detection of illegal immigrants and implementation of the National Register of Citizens prior to any census activity.

Karam argued that the prevailing situation in the state does not provide a conducive environment for conducting a credible census. He pointed to restricted movement in several areas, the continued presence of internally displaced persons in relief camps, and what he described as “unnatural growth” in villages and population clusters.

Raising concerns over the enumeration process, Karam claimed that officials indicated population counting would be conducted along community lines — with members of the Kuki, Meitei, and Naga communities enumerating their respective groups. He alleged that such an approach could undermine the fairness and neutrality of the census.

“The government’s decision to proceed with the census under current conditions is unfortunate,” he said, reiterating the demand that enumeration be deferred until after the identification of illegal immigrants and implementation of NRC mechanisms.

Karam also questioned why authorities have not agreed to sequence the census after the completion of NRC-related processes, particularly in light of ongoing debates around demographic changes in the state. Referring to statements by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on illegal immigration, he asked whether the policy focus on detection and deportation extends uniformly to migrants from all neighbouring countries, including Myanmar.

Protestors raised slogans demanding “no census without identification of illegal immigrants” and “no census until internally displaced persons are resettled.” They warned of intensifying their agitation if the government fails to take concrete steps addressing their concerns.