Imphal: The Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD) ramped up its push for a National Register of Citizens (NRC) update today. Students formed a human chain in Imphal to block the Census scheduled for August 17. The JFD Student Wing led the march with students from Johnstone Higher Secondary School and Tamphasana Higher Secondary School. They chanted slogans like No NRC, No Census and No IDP Settlement, No Census.
JFD Student Wing Convenor Naorem Wangamba said this follows a recent meeting at Classic Grande. He blamed the government for ignoring public fears regarding the Census. He specifically pointed to the long-term stay of displaced people in relief camps and recent calls for separate administrations. He warned these factors threaten the state's social structure and the next generation. Wangamba expects a clear government decision before August 17.
Elangbam Velentina, Secretary of the Girls Common Room at TG Higher Secondary School, vowed to keep protesting until the government addresses these unresolved issues. Simultaneously, the Wal United Youths Club in Wangkhei Angom Leikai hosted a sit-in. Representatives from various hill and valley groups attended.
Longjam Ratan, Organisation Secretary of the JFD, remains firm on the group's position. He stated, "If we are invited through the proper channel to discuss this issue, we are ready to sit at the negotiating table and discuss it. But we demand that the NRC be updated before the Census process, and until the NRC process is initiated, the Census should be deferred. This is our sole demand. We will not change this demand."
Anandi Shimrah, from the Indigenous People’s Forum, Manipur, also joined the call. She urged the public to join the movement, claiming a census without an NRC update spells trouble for both the Meitei and Naga communities.
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