Manipur women stage torch rally against NRC updation delay ahead of census

A large number of women staged a torch rally in Imphal East’s Khurai area on Saturday night, August 22, demanding that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) be updated before the Census is conducted in Manipur.

Women from several areas under Khurai Assembly constituency gathered at Lamlong Bazaar and marched through Tellipati before returning to Lamlong. During the rally, protesters raised slogans opposing the conduct of the Census without prior NRC updation and called for measures to prevent the entry of alleged illegal immigrants into the state.

The protesters also criticised political leaders over what they described as inaction on the NRC issue.

The rally was part of a series of protests being organised by the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD), which has been demanding NRC updation ahead of the Census. The organisation recently called a 48-hour general strike as part of its agitation.

JFD has announced further protests, including torch rallies every night. The group has also called for a boycott of state and Central government offices, with exemptions for essential services such as health, education, water supply and electricity.