Former All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU) leader Ng. Nongyai today asserted that unchecked illegal immigration has been one of the principal factors behind the ongoing crisis in Manipur and called for the immediate updation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) under the supervision of the Supreme Court.
He was speaking at an interactive programme titled “Exchange of Acts and Thoughts” organised by Lillong Higher Secondary School. The programme was attended by M. Nilchandra Singh, Advocate and former President of the All Manipur Bar Association (AMBA), as Guest of Honour. I. Padmabati Devi, Vice Principal of the school, presided over the function, while Principal Dr. Shanta Ningombam was also present.
Addressing the students, Nongyai described them as the future custodians of the State and urged them to understand the historical and demographic issues confronting Manipur. He recalled that nearly one crore Bangladeshi refugees entered India during the 1971 India-Pakistan War, citing United Nations reports, and said concerns over the impact of illegal immigration prompted the formation of the North East Region Students’ Union (NERSU) in 1979 to safeguard the indigenous people of the region.
Nongyai said AMSU had entered into agreements with the State and Central Governments in 1980 and 1994 recognising 1951 as the base year for identifying illegal immigrants in Manipur. He contrasted this with the 1985 Assam Accord, under which the Centre and the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) adopted 1971 as the cut-off year for Assam. He alleged that despite these agreements, the issue of illegal immigration in Manipur remains unresolved.
Claiming that the State’s population has reached around 33 lakh, Nongyai maintained that demographic changes resulting from illegal immigration have contributed significantly to the ethnic tensions and the ongoing Manipur crisis since 2023. Quoting the Supreme Court’s observation that “Huge illegal influx causes external aggression and internal disturbance,” he urged that the NRC be updated in Manipur through judicial intervention to establish an authentic register of citizens.
He further said that although both the Central and State Governments have expressed their intention to implement NRC updation, little progress has been made. He appealed to intellectuals, scholars, lawyers, civil society organisations and the people of Manipur to unite in supporting legal and democratic efforts to ensure the implementation of the NRC for the protection of the indigenous population.
