Imphal: Former All Manipur Students Union leader Ng. Nongyai says illegal immigration triggered the state's ongoing ethnic crisis. He wants the National Register of Citizens updated immediately. He believes Supreme Court oversight is needed to get the job done right.
Nongyai spoke to students at an event hosted by Lillong Higher Secondary School. He called them the future guardians of Manipur. He pointed to the 1971 war, noting that millions of refugees entered India. This influx eventually led to the 1979 birth of the North East Region Students Union.
Agreements signed in 1980 and 1994 set 1951 as the base year for identifying illegal residents in Manipur. Nongyai noted this differs from the 1985 Assam Accord. He argued the state population has ballooned to 33 lakh. He thinks demographic shifts drive the violence that broke out in 2023.
Nongyai cited high court concerns regarding national stability. Quoting the Supreme Court, he stated, "Huge illegal influx causes external aggression and internal disturbance." He urged lawyers, scholars, and civil society groups to force the government to act. Despite promises from officials, little work has moved forward to fix the register.
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