Senior Congress leader Okram Ibobi Singh urges Centre to defer Census in Manipur until normalcy returns

The Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee has demanded that the Census exercise in Manipur be deferred until normalcy is fully restored and all internally displaced persons (IDPs) return to their homes.

 

Addressing a press conference at Congress Bhavan, senior Congress leader Okram Ibobi Singh said conducting the Census amid ongoing conflict would lead to inaccurate and unreliable data, as thousands of people remain displaced.

 

He stressed that the Census is a crucial document that forms the basis for policy-making and planning at the national level. “If the exercise is carried out in the current situation, it will not reflect the correct population data,” he said.

 

Ibobi Singh noted that India has been conducting the Census every ten years since 1951, and while it is essential for all citizens to be included, the prevailing situation in Manipur makes it difficult to ensure accuracy.

 

Referring to the 2011 Census, he pointed out that certain districts in the state recorded unusually high population growth, far exceeding the national average. He said such trends had earlier prompted the Congress to oppose delimitation, citing potential negative impacts on the state.

 

The Congress leader also raised concerns over proposals such as Special Intensive Revision ahead of the Census, stating that such measures would still fail to capture accurate data given the large number of displaced people.

 

He urged the government to consider postponing the exercise until stability is restored and said the Congress is willing to participate in discussions if an all-party meeting is convened on the issue.