The Government of India must immediately stop what five civil society organisations described as “terrorism” in Manipur and update the National Register of Citizens (NRC) with 1951 as the base year before conducting the Census, AMUCO president and convenor of the five organisations Sorokhaibam Sanjoy said today.
Speaking at a public meeting at Uripok Sorbon Thingel Haorongbam Leikai, Sanjoy said the Census should not be conducted in Manipur until the NRC is updated. The five organisations also demanded that the recently concluded Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls be annulled, internally displaced persons (IDPs) be resettled in their native places and the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 be repealed from Manipur. Similar demands have been raised by the organisations in recent protests.
The five organisations are the All Manipur United Clubs’ Organisation (AMUCO), All Manipur Women’s Voluntary Association (AMAWOVA), Poirei Leimarol Meira Paibi Apunba Manipur (PLMPAM), Committee on Human Rights (COHR) and Manipuri Students’ Federation (MSF).
Sanjoy alleged that the violence in Manipur was the result of actions by the Government of India and accused the Centre of pursuing what he described as an undemocratic approach in the state. He alleged that the role of the Centre and the state government had contributed to prolonging the crisis and warned that continued failure to address the grievances of the people could lead to a stronger public movement.
He further criticised the deployment of a large number of central security forces in Manipur, alleging that their presence had failed to protect civilians. He said the forces should instead be withdrawn from the state and alleged that civilians continued to face insecurity despite their deployment.
Sanjoy warned that unless the government took immediate steps to address the crisis, including the NRC issue, rehabilitation of IDPs and withdrawal of AFSPA, public resistance would intensify. The organisations have previously warned of intensified agitation if their demands are not addressed.
A separate torch rally was also held at Eroisemba by the Eroisemba Youth Development Club and Eroisemba Apunba Meira Paibi Lup in support of the demands.