Women vendors of Khwairamband Ima Keithel staged a sit-in protest on Monday, demanding that the NRC be updated before the Census is conducted in Manipur.
The protest was organised by the women vendors under the slogans, “NRC Updation Before Census,” “No NRC, No Census,” and “No IDP Settlement, No Census.”
Speaking to the media during the protest, Kshetrimayum Shanti, president of the Khwairamband Nupi Keithel Sinfam Amadi Shaktam Kanba Lup, said the women were seeking a clear and favourable response from the State Government regarding the deferment of the Census.
She also demanded that the government issue a white paper formally confirming the deferment of the Census in Manipur.
Shanti warned that if the government failed to make the announcement by the end of Monday, women vendors from different Ima Keithels and women’s markets across the State would launch an indefinite sit-in protest at Khwairamband Keithel.
She said the women would also intensify their agitation in support of their demands concerning the Census and NRC.
Addressing the protesters, JFD Convenor Jeetendra Ningomba said the people of Manipur were determined to continue the agitation wholeheartedly if the government failed to announce the deferment of the Census.
He announced that a general strike would commence from September 1 if the government failed to respond to the demand, while appealing to all the Imas of Manipur to extend their support to the movement.
Jeetendra Ningomba maintained that the ongoing agitation was not directed against any particular individual or community, but was aimed at safeguarding the State and its people.
He further stated that if the government failed to heed the voice of the people, it would have to take responsibility for any consequences arising from the situation.