Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh has supported the demand for updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state while urging groups leading the agitation to avoid bandhs and blockades, saying such shutdowns would create further difficulties for the people.
His appeal came amid growing protests over the conduct of the Census before an NRC update. The Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD) has threatened to call a 24-hour bandh from midnight on August 31 if the Centre does not defer the Census and begin the NRC update process. The group has also linked its next phase of agitation to the Manipur Assembly session, which is scheduled to begin on September 2.
Speaking to the Directorate of Information and Public Relations before leaving for New Delhi on Sunday, Khemchand said both the state and Central governments were committed to addressing the concerns raised by the people. He appealed to protest groups to use democratic means to press their demands instead of resorting to shutdowns and road blockades.
The Chief Minister said a recent campaign by 14 civil society organisations, along with a delegation of MLAs in New Delhi, had received a positive response from the Centre. The delegation had sought an NRC update before the Census is conducted.
The Manipur government has previously stated that it supports the demand for updating the NRC. Earlier this month, Khemchand said the state government was pursuing the matter with the Centre. State Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam had also said Manipur was prepared to undertake the exercise within the constitutional and legal framework.
The NRC issue has emerged as a major point of concern in the state ahead of Census 2027. The JFD and several civil society organisations have been demanding that the Census be deferred until the NRC is updated. Some groups have also called for 1951 to be used as the base year for the exercise.
The agitation in recent weeks has included rallies, road blockades and disruptions to training programmes related to the Census in some parts of the state.
Khemchand said shutdowns have a direct impact on sections of society that depend on their daily earnings. He particularly pointed to daily wage workers and women vegetable vendors, whose incomes are affected when markets and normal activities remain closed.
Students, too, are affected when classes are disrupted and the academic calendar is disturbed, he said.
The Chief Minister urged the groups involved in the agitation to adopt other democratic forms of protest to communicate their demands. At the same time, he warned that strict action would be taken against anyone who violated the law or attempted to create disorder.
Khemchand is scheduled to meet senior Central leaders during his visit to New Delhi and discuss issues concerning Manipur.
Meanwhile, the state government has also highlighted the restoration of the Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati bus service after more than three years. Khemchand said the resumption of the service would help ease the difficulties faced by people travelling between Imphal and Guwahati, particularly those who have had to depend on relatively expensive air travel.