Lok Sabha MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking the deferment of the upcoming Census and delimitation exercise in Manipur, citing long-standing anomalies in population data and concerns over illegal immigration.

In a letter submitted following a notice under Rule 377 in Parliament, Akoijam flagged historical irregularities in census figures, particularly the 2001 Census, which recorded unusually high population growth in several hill sub-divisions. He noted that the Gauhati High Court, in a 2007 judgment, had termed the data “highly suspect” and called for a fresh population count before its use in delimitation.

The MP argued that such abnormal growth trends cannot be explained by conventional demographic factors alone, citing academic studies that attribute the discrepancies to political motivations, including competition for legislative representation.

Raising concerns over illegal immigration, Akoijam pointed to Manipur’s porous international border and the influx of individuals from neighbouring Myanmar amid ongoing instability. He stressed the need to distinguish between historical migration patterns and recent cross-border movement of “alien subjects” in the post-independence period.

The letter also highlighted apprehensions among local communities regarding the alleged role of illegal immigrants in the ongoing unrest in the state, including suspected links to drug trafficking and poppy cultivation associated with the Golden Triangle.

Akoijam further noted that concerns over demographic changes in the Northeast date back decades, including migration linked to developments in erstwhile East Pakistan, now Bangladesh.

Calling for corrective measures, the MP urged the Centre to first undertake an updated National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise under the Citizenship Act, 1955, before proceeding with census-linked delimitation. He also recommended setting up Foreigners Tribunals in Manipur to identify non-citizens through due legal process.

Additionally, Akoijam stressed the need to improve the law and order situation, particularly in areas influenced by armed groups, to ensure that any verification process is conducted transparently and without coercion.

He expressed hope that addressing these concerns would restore public confidence and ensure that genuine citizens are not adversely affected by flawed data or administrative processes.