Manipur census deferment likely before Assembly session: Civil Society Organisations

Civil society organisations (CSOs) in Manipur have said the Centre is likely to announce a deferment of the Census exercise before the state Assembly session begins on September 2.

A delegation of leaders representing indigenous communities, including Meitei, Naga and Meitei Pangal groups, had travelled to New Delhi on August 20 to press for an update of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur before the Census.

After a series of meetings with officials and political leaders, including the North East security adviser and Intelligence Bureau officials, the delegation returned to Imphal on Friday and briefed the media at Imphal International Airport.

Shanta Nahakpam, spokesperson for 14 CSOs under Kangleipak, said the delegation had raised concerns over the presence of illegal immigrants in the state during its meetings with central authorities. He said the demand for implementing the NRC in Manipur was reiterated in each meeting.

Nahakpam said the discussions could result in the Centre deferring the Census. However, he stressed that the next step would have to be a tripartite discussion involving the Manipur government, the Centre and CSOs on how illegal immigrants would be identified and dealt with.

He said the mechanism could involve either the Foreigners Act or the NRC, but the decision should be discussed with all stakeholders.

Several protests and other forms of agitation have been underway in Manipur over the demand for an NRC update before the Census. Protesters have argued that conducting the Census amid the ongoing conflict and concerns over illegal immigration could affect the accuracy of the exercise and, they say, undermine the interests of the state's indigenous population.