Manipur group seeks NRC updation before Census, protests against August 17 exercise

The Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD) on Friday, August 14, staged a protest in Imphal, demanding that the upcoming Census exercise in Manipur be deferred until the National Register of Citizens (NRC) is updated.
 

A large number of protesters marched from Palace Compound in Imphal East towards the Lok Bhavan, seeking an appointment with Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla to press their demand.
 

Security forces stopped the protesters from proceeding further. However, a delegation of the organisation was allowed to visit the Governor’s Office to submit its representation.
 

The protest comes days before the first phase of Census 2027 is scheduled to begin on August 17, with the self-enumeration exercise scheduled to continue until August 31.
 

JFD convenor Jitendra Ningombam said the organisation had been holding protests and making representations to the authorities, seeking deferment of the Census until the NRC exercise was completed.
 

“We intend to meet Governor Bhalla to seek an update on the status of the NRC process and urge the government to take necessary steps before conducting the Census,” Ningombam said.
 

He said the organisation would also urge the government to defer the Census, scheduled to commence from August 17, until the NRC is updated.
 

The JFD said its demand was aimed at ensuring proper identification and documentation of citizens in the state, and maintained that conducting the Census without first updating the NRC could have serious implications.
 

The organisation has been demanding that the government initiate and complete the NRC process before proceeding with the Census exercise in Manipur.