Manipur protesters demand NRC before census, women vendors continue overnight agitation at Ima Market

Women vendors at Imphal's Khwairamband Keithel, popularly known as Ima Market, on September 1 said they would continue their agitation until the Ministry of Home Affairs issues an order for updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur, insisting that the NRC must precede the Census.

The protest came as a 24-hour statewide general strike called by the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD) brought normal life to a standstill across Manipur's five valley districts.

Women vendors at Ima Market stayed overnight at the market as part of an indefinite agitation demanding that the NRC be updated before any Census or delimitation exercise is undertaken in the state.

Asem Nirmala, secretary of Lukmai Selup and a senior vendor, said the protesters were not opposed to the Census but wanted the NRC process to be completed first.

“We are not against the Census. The government can conduct the Census as usual later. But our demand is clear — NRC first and Census next,” she said.

Nirmala said the demand was aimed at protecting Manipur's indigenous population amid concerns over alleged illegal immigration and demographic changes in the state.

She claimed that unchecked illegal immigration could threaten the indigenous population and argued that failure to update the NRC could have implications for the constitutional rights and interests of indigenous communities.

“Only an updated NRC can protect our indigenous people in the future. Therefore, our request to the government is to update the NRC first and conduct the Census afterwards,” she said.

The protesters also expressed dissatisfaction with the Centre's decision to defer the proposed Census exercise in Manipur, saying the move did not address their primary demand.

“We were really amazed because we had no demand about the Census. Our demand was NRC, but there was no mention of NRC. We will not stop until the government gives an order for updating the NRC,” Nirmala said.

She said women vendors were prepared to sacrifice their daily earnings to continue the agitation.

“We are stopping our daily routine and our income, but we will continue until the NRC is updated,” she said.

Responding to Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh's appeal for democratic protests without disrupting the livelihoods of vendors and normal functioning of markets, Nirmala said the agitation was peaceful.

“We are not creating any violence. We are simply sitting here in protest and demanding NRC first,” she said.

While acknowledging that prolonged closure of markets affects vendors and the wider economy, Nirmala said the protesters considered safeguarding indigenous rights a more important concern.

The protesters said they would consult other civil society organisations and groups supporting the NRC demand before deciding their next course of action.

“Our demand is rigid — NRC first, Census next. We will not stop our protest until and unless the Ministry of Home Affairs issues an order for updating the NRC,” Nirmala said.

Strike disrupts normal life across Manipur

The JFD-called 24-hour general strike affected normal life across the five valley districts — Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Kakching.

Markets, including Khwairamband Keithel, educational institutions, banks and public and private transport services remained largely shut. Roadblocks using bamboo poles were reported at several locations.

Protesters raised slogans of “No NRC, No Census”, demanding that the NRC be updated before any Census or delimitation exercise is conducted in the state.

They also demanded that internally displaced persons (IDPs) be resettled before Census-related activities begin.

The agitation, which intensified on August 31 and continued into September 1, disrupted commercial activity and brought normal life in Imphal to a near standstill.

The protests came days after the Centre deferred the proposed Census exercise in Manipur following a high-level meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The decision followed sustained demands from civil society organisations and other sections of the population for the NRC to be taken up before the Census.