A protest demanding the identification of illegal immigrants and the implementation of a National Register of Citizens (NRC)-like mechanism before conducting the national census was staged in Imphal on Wednesday by the Campaign for Just & Fair Delimitation (JFD).
Protesters, including vendors from the Khwairamband Market, gathered in large numbers and attempted to march towards the Manipur Legislative Assembly while the Assembly session was in progress. However, a heavy deployment of security forces stopped the demonstrators from advancing further.
The agitators criticised the government’s move to initiate the census exercise, alleging that it overlooked long-standing demands for updating the NRC and identifying illegal immigrants in the state.
According to the protesters, they have repeatedly urged the authorities not to proceed with the census until the identification of illegal immigrants allegedly blending with indigenous communities is completed and an NRC-like mechanism is implemented in Manipur.
One protester stated that people had elected their representatives with the expectation that they would safeguard the interests of indigenous communities. He termed it “very unfortunate” that the census process had begun despite repeated appeals to address the issue first.
The demonstrators also voiced concern over what they described as growing challenges posed by illegal immigration and urged the government to take the matter seriously to maintain the trust of indigenous communities.
