Manipur govt urges JFD to call off agitation over NRC and census, warns of public hardship

Guwahati: Manipur Government spokespersons and MLAs Th. Radheshyam and Sapam Ranjan Singh said the agitation by the JFD (Campaign for Justice and Fair Delimitation), demanding the closure of Central and state government offices in connection with the updating of the NRC, should be withdrawn. They appealed to all concerned not to add to the misery and inconvenience faced by the public.

During the media briefing, Radheshyam Singh said the state government is fully aware of the JFD’s demand and that the people of Manipur also want the NRC to be conducted before the Census.

He said the 8th session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly reaffirmed its earlier resolution to conduct the NRC before the Census, and Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh has conveyed the same to the Central Government.


He added that on the last day of the recently concluded Assembly session, the House discussed 1951 as the base year for the NRC, and the matter has already been conveyed to the Union Home Ministry.

He said that following the campaign by members of the Manipur Legislative Assembly in New Delhi, the Chief Minister also conveyed the people’s desire to Central leaders. Consequently, the Union Home Ministry has also postponed the Census process.

Against this backdrop, the JFD has intensified its agitation by calling for the closure of government offices. Such an agitation may lead to various undesirable incidents and affect the functioning of the state government, he added.

Radheshyam further appealed to the JFD not to intensify its agitation. He also urged the organisation not to continue such activities for a prolonged period, as a prolonged agitation in the state could cause greater inconvenience to the people.

He appealed to all sections of the public “to give peace a chance in Manipur” and support the efforts of the current government to restore normalcy to the state.

The spokespersons also made it clear during the press meet that Manipur Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam, along with some other MLAs, has been camping in New Delhi for the past few days to press the Centre to conduct the NRC with 1951 as the base year.

They also expressed hope that the Centre will act according to the wishes of the people of the state.