Photo Courtesy: northeasttoday
Imphal: Thousands of demonstrators, including students, indigenous community members, and internally displaced people, marched through Imphal on Monday to demand an immediate update of the National Register of Citizens (NRC). Organized by 14 Civil Society Organizations of Kangleipak, the rally moved from Tiddim Ground to THAU Ground, where participants called on the government to secure the state's demographic integrity before beginning new census or demographic survey work.
Protesters displayed placards echoing their primary demands, including signs that read, "Only updation of NRC can save Manipur." The group argued that verifying citizenship records is critical to identifying illegal immigrants and protecting the rights of local populations. Convenor Shanta Nahakpam stated, "Only updation of NRC can save Manipur," while emphasizing that the state requires unique attention due to its porous border with Myanmar.
The rally participants expressed concern over alleged illegal immigration and narco-trafficking networks affecting the region. Nahakpam highlighted that an updated NRC is vital for a credible future delimitation exercise, noting that failing to address population discrepancies could harm the political representation of indigenous communities. He also urged the Centre to involve a Manipur state agency in the newly formed committee tasked with studying demographic shifts, arguing that local insight is essential to addressing the state's specific security and social challenges.
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