Imphal: Activists in Manipur are pushing to block the upcoming Census until the government updates the National Register of Citizens. The Meitei/Meetei Tribe Union argues that counting the population now will fail to address illegal immigration, which they label the state's core issue. They fear a Census without an NRC will jeopardize the future of indigenous communities.
The Meitei/Meetei Tribe Union claims immigrants from Myanmar have settled across the hill districts. They allege these settlers have built roads and bridges without oversight and even secured spots in the local administration. The Union warns that existing deportation orders are toothless without a formal citizenship registry. They point to the recent Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls as evidence of the problem, citing the removal of Saikot MLA Paolienlal from the draft list as the "tip of the iceberg."
Separately, the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation held outreach meetings at Indo Burma Sugnu Road and Tiddim Line. Leaders L. Bimola, P. Sanahanbi, Sougrakpam Sumati, and W. Phulka rallied residents against the Census. They cite the Census Act of 1948, claiming the law allows for delays if local conditions are unstable. The group argues that with thousands still displaced since the May 3, 2023, violence, the current environment is not suitable for a headcount.
The state has seen over one million Inner Line Permit applications since the system began. Critics demand transparency on who stays and who leaves. Previous government resolutions from 1980 and 1994 regarding illegal immigration remain largely unfulfilled. These organizations now demand that authorities declare their intent to implement the NRC before the Census starts on August 17.
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