The Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) on Saturday urged the Centre to defer the upcoming census exercise in Manipur until normalcy is restored, citing large-scale displacement and concerns over data accuracy.
Addressing a press conference at Congress Bhawan, MPCC president and former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh said the census is a critical national exercise that must yield reliable and accurate data. He cautioned that flawed statistics could adversely affect development planning and governance.
Referring to past census operations, Ibobi noted that data from the 2001 census had continued to influence policy decisions for years.
However, he alleged discrepancies in population figures, claiming that some districts recorded disproportionate growth compared to the national average of around 24 percent. Such anomalies, he said, contributed to “abnormal delimitation” in certain areas. He added that the Congress had earlier opposed delimitation based on the 2001 census data over similar concerns.
Highlighting the current situation in the state, Ibobi pointed to the challenges of conducting a census amid widespread displacement. He said thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs), many of whom are living in relief camps, would make accurate enumeration difficult. According to him, over 50,000 people have been affected by ongoing unrest, further complicating the process.
He also raised concerns over the presence of refugees from Myanmar, stating that it could add another layer of complexity to the exercise. Ibobi suggested that the census should be carried out only after the identification and deportation of illegal immigrants and the rehabilitation of displaced residents.
Warning against proceeding with delimitation under the current circumstances, he stressed that accurate census data must precede any such exercise. “Until normalcy is restored and displaced persons return to their original homes, the census should be deferred,” he said.
On the issue of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), Ibobi clarified that the Congress is not opposed to identifying illegal immigrants, stating that the NRC serves that purpose. He, however, accused the BJP of sending mixed signals on the matter.
He further called for broader political consensus on key issues, stating that the Congress is open to all-party meetings and joint delegations to engage with the Centre.
Commenting on the visit of Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh to Jiribam, Ibobi said that in a democracy, there should be free movement across all parts of the state, including sensitive areas.
The press conference was also attended by Inner Manipur MP Bimol Akoijam, Congress MLAs, and other party leaders.
