Photo Courtesy: nenow
Imphal: More than 400 people from Meitei and Naga communities filled Pallel Market in Kakching district on Thursday. They demanded the government update the National Register of Citizens before the upcoming Census. The Native Peoples Committee, Manipur, United Committee for Protection, Meira Paibi, and NPLKTLP organized the event. Speakers included Dr. L. Phaomei, Trimson Saka, M. Jiban, M. Romita Devi, Romen Meitei, S. Rabi, and M. Ojit Singh.
These leaders claimed illegal immigration and shifting demographics drove the state crisis. They insist an NRC update is the only way to protect ancestral land and constitutional rights. The crowd slammed the Central Government for ignoring their grievances. They argued their movement is about survival, not targeting specific groups. The gathering resolved to work together for future generations.
Pressure is mounting elsewhere. The Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation held a separate session on August 5 at Thoubal Keithel. They set an August 6, 2026 deadline for the state to prioritize identifying illegal immigrants before Census operations. Finance Secretary Sunil Karam issued a stark warning regarding the government's August 17 rollout plans.
“If the government overlooks public sentiment demanding an initial NRC update and forcibly conducts the scheduled Census, the public will resist,” Karam cautioned.
JFD Convenor Jeetendra Ningomba warned of statewide protests if authorities stay silent. He claimed the conflict involves illicit poppy cultivation and foreign-funded arsenals rather than simple inter-community fighting. The group maintains the government bears full responsibility for any fallout if it pushes ahead without the requested identity checks.
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