Imphal: The Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD) ramped up pressure today, demanding a full update of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) before the next Census. The group warned that counting heads without verifying citizenship first threatens the demographic and political survival of Manipur.
Protesters gathered at the Yaipha Thouni Community Hall in Keishampat Leimajam Leikai to make their voices heard. The Joint Task Force of the JFD organized the sit-in, drawing local residents, women, and members of civil society. Demonstrators hoisted signs reading "NRC Updation Before Census," "No NRC, No Census," and "No IDP Settlement Before Census."
JFD Convenor Jitendra Ningombam spoke to reporters during the event. He insisted that moving forward with a Census before identifying legitimate citizens would destroy the credibility of the entire process. "The organisation's stand remains unequivocal that the NRC must be updated before the Census is conducted," Ningombam said.
The group also slammed plans to settle internally displaced persons (IDPs) before the census begins. They argue these settlements will skew demographic statistics. This could permanently alter future resource distribution and delimitation efforts across the region.
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