The United Naga Council has formally urged Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh to defer the proposed census operations in the state until key concerns are addressed.

In a letter to the Chief Minister, the council stressed that ensuring a fair and accurate census requires prior resolution of critical issues. It called for mandatory citizenship verification, suggesting that identification of illegal immigrants through mechanisms such as the National Register of Citizens (NRC) should precede any enumeration exercise to prevent distortion of demographic data.

The UNC also highlighted the prevailing law and order situation in Manipur, stating that ongoing ethnic tensions and large-scale displacement have created an unstable environment unsuitable for conducting a reliable census. It warned that proceeding under such conditions could further aggravate mistrust among communities.

Another major concern raised was the unresolved district rollback issue, which, according to the council, continues to evoke strong sentiments among the Naga population. Conducting census operations in disputed areas, it cautioned, may reinforce contested jurisdictions and trigger social unrest.

Terming the current situation as unfavorable, the council appealed to the state government to immediately postpone the census exercise until normalcy is restored and conducive conditions are ensured in the interest of the public.