Photo Courtesy: nenow
Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh urged citizens on August 7 to end highway blockades and bandhs. These protests cripple the economy. They hurt daily wage earners. Truck drivers transporting essential goods remain stranded on national highways, fueling the crisis.
Khemchand Singh spoke at a two-day Consultative Meeting-cum-Seminar on the Demographic Profile of Manipur. The Home Department and the Manipur State Population Commission organized the event at Imperial Hall, Classic Grande, in Imphal. The Chief Minister promised that the state would address demands from civil society organizations within the framework of the Constitution of India.
Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam told the crowd that the state government already informed the Centre of its willingness to conduct an NRC exercise. He noted that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs formed a High-Level Committee to study demographic changes nationwide. "Although there may be political or ideological differences, people should come together for the larger interest of the public," Konthoujam said.
Civil society groups remain agitated. The 14 CSOs of Kangleipak, alongside the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation, are demanding an NRC update before any Census or delimitation. They fear the upcoming Census could validate illegal immigrants. Protesters insist that internally displaced persons must return to their homes first. They have threatened a statewide shutdown starting August 9 if the government fails to meet their demands for expert consultations.
Attendees included Commissioner (Home) N. Ashok Kumar, State Population Commissioner M. Manimoham Meitei, and Secretary M. Veto Singh. Also present were community leaders, women leaders, and scholars. The seminar continues with technical sessions intended to provide policy inputs. The Home Minister proposed a committee of civil society representatives to build consensus on the state’s demographic future.
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