Manipur Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi and discussed the prevailing situation in the state and the way forward towards peace and stability, amid the ongoing agitation demanding updation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) before the Census.
In a social media post, Konthoujam said he had a “substantive interaction” with Shah on the present situation in Manipur and the path towards lasting peace and stability. He said the Union Home Minister assured him that the concerns of the people of Manipur were fully understood and would be addressed appropriately.
However, the statement did not specify whether any concrete assurance was given on the demand for NRC updation before the Census or on the proposed 1951 base year.
The meeting assumes significance as the state government has been under pressure from the ongoing “No NRC, No Census” movement led by the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD). The Centre deferred the Census exercise in Manipur following demands that the NRC be updated before the population enumeration.
The state government has maintained that the NRC in Manipur should use 1951 as the base year. Govindas told the Assembly earlier this month that the government would pursue the matter with the Centre in accordance with resolutions adopted by the House, while also stating that the state could not implement the NRC without approval from the Government of India.
The Home Minister’s latest Delhi visit therefore comes at a time when the government is seeking to address both the broader security situation and the demand for a formal process for NRC updation.
Govindas reiterated that the state government remained committed to building a peaceful, secure and stronger Manipur.
