Photo Courtesy: nenow
Imphal: Five civil society groups massed at Lamsang Bazar on Sunday. They want the government to force the Centre to update the National Register of Citizens using 1951 as the base year. The All Manipur United Clubs’ Organisation led the charge. They joined forces with the All Manipur Women’s Voluntary Association, Poirei Leimarol Meira Paibi Apunba Manipur, the Committee on Human Rights, and the Manipuri Students’ Federation.
The coalition issued a list of heavy demands. Beyond the NRC update, they want the cancellation of SIR 2026 and the total repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act of 1958. They also called for the immediate resettlement of all internally displaced people. Ethnic violence has plagued the state since May 2023.
Sanjoy Sorokhaibam serves as the AMUCO president and coalition convenor. He leveled sharp criticism at the Centre during the protest. Sorokhaibam claimed the government's policies drive the ongoing conflict. He stated, "The Centre was attempting to create permanent divisions among the communities living in the state."
Sorokhaibam described the crisis as a proxy war. Public trust in the central government has hit rock bottom. He urged all communities to unite and keep the protests going until peace returns. The coalition warned that any further divisive policies will spark mass resistance. They demanded the state government act now to secure residents and fix the humanitarian disaster.
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