A joint delegation comprising representatives of 14 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and members of the Naga, Kom and Meitei Pangal communities left Imphal for New Delhi on Thursday to seek the Centre’s intervention on the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the pending Census exercise in Manipur.
The delegation said it would seek dialogue with the Centre and place the concerns of the people before Union ministers, BJP leaders and officials of the Intelligence Bureau (IB). It also plans to seek a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The delegation stressed that identification of genuine Indian citizens through the NRC should precede the pending delimitation exercise in the state.
“We want a discussion, not a confrontation, and seek an understanding on these issues while keeping the interests of the people of Manipur in mind,” Serto Hao Kom, president of the Kom Union Manipur, said.
Kom said the Census and NRC are crucial exercises that need to be conducted seriously and carefully, adding that the delegation would seek proper identification of genuine Indian citizens before the delimitation exercise.
SM Jalal, president of AMMOCOC, said the delegation would seek an opportunity to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah and place its concerns directly before him.
Among those accompanying the delegation are Jalal, Gaikhiam Thaimei, vice-president of RNYOM, Serto Hao Kom and Dr K. Heera Kabui, president of the Kabui Union.
The Delhi visit comes amid intensified agitation by the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD), which has been demanding implementation of the NRC before the Census and raising concerns over the pending delimitation exercise in Manipur.
