Fourteen Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) of Kangleipak on Monday organised a massive public rally in Imphal demanding the immediate updating of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur before any future Census exercise is conducted in the state.
The rally was aimed at pressuring the government to identify and address issues related to alleged illegal immigration prior to carrying out Census operations or demographic surveys in Manipur.
Jointly organised under the banner of “14 CSOs Kangleipak,” the rally began at Tiddim Ground in Imphal West and concluded at THAU Ground, where a public meeting was held.
Thousands of people, including students, youths, internally displaced persons (IDPs), artists and members of indigenous communities, participated in the demonstration. Protesters carried placards bearing slogans such as “Only updation of NRC can save Manipur,” “No NRC, No Census,” “Do not neglect Manipur State,” and “Until NRC 1951 update, don’t conduct census.”
Participants stressed that updating the NRC was necessary to ensure proper identification of citizens and to safeguard the demographic integrity of the state. Demonstrators also urged the authorities to take urgent measures to detect and address illegal immigration issues at the earliest.
Addressing the gathering, 14 CSOs Kangleipak convenor Shanta Nahakpam alleged that the Centre had ignored repeated demands for NRC updation in Manipur despite raising concerns over illegal immigration in other states during elections.
He referred to a recent notification issued by the Government of India establishing a high-powered committee to study demographic changes in various states and submit its findings to the Union Home Ministry within a year.
Nahakpam argued that Manipur required special attention because of its international border, existing peace agreements with different groups and concerns over demographic changes.
According to him, an updated NRC was essential to ensure a credible delimitation exercise in the future. He claimed that any delimitation process conducted without addressing alleged discrepancies in population records could adversely affect the political representation and constitutional rights of indigenous communities.
Nahakpam also urged the Centre to include a Manipur government agency in the newly formed committee studying demographic changes, stating that local participation was necessary to accurately assess the concerns of the state.
He further claimed that Manipur faces challenges distinct from neighbouring states, citing issues related to the porous India-Myanmar border, illegal immigration and alleged narco-trafficking networks operating across the region.
