Kuki-Zo Council opposes demands for 'NRC before Census' in Manipur

Guwahati: The National Register of Citizens (NRC) has become a flash point in Manipur, with the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) now demanding the Census exercise should be taken up in the state.

In a statement on Sunday, KZC said: "Given the falsehoods and propaganda surrounding our population and demographic status during the Manipur conflict, an impartial Census is essential to establish facts and dispel unfounded claims." It argued that NRC is a national exercise and no community or state government can unilaterally decide its timing or implementation.

"Accordingly, there is no legitimate basis for any Manipur-based group or the state government to dictate the timing or implementation of the national NRC exercise," it stated.


KZC said calls for an NRC before Census were based on "unsubstantiated allegations and speculation" regarding the Kuki-Zo community.

As per the council, such demographic concerns should first be examined through credible and verified data, with Census being an appropriate mechanism for establishing population figures and demographic trends.

Nagas and Meiteis have been demanding NRC before Census 2027.

On August 20, chief minister Y Khemchand Singh assured a delegation of student representatives that the state government supports "effort-free" implementation of NRC. He assured them that the government will move to discuss the implementation of NRC in Manipur in the assembly session beginning September 2.