Imagi Meira president Sujata has said the bandh imposed in protest against the conduct of the Census before updation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) could be withdrawn if the Chief Minister, ministers and MLAs, irrespective of political affiliation, convene a meeting and take a collective decision to defer the Census exercise.
Speaking to media persons at the Imagi Meira office at Sagolband Tera on August 30, Sujata questioned the political leadership’s failure to act on what she described as a legitimate demand of the people of Manipur.
She said the Chief Minister had demonstrated his willingness to stage protests and sit-ins against the Opposition, but questioned why the same political leadership could not initiate a meaningful effort on an issue that directly concerns the people of the state.
“If the Chief Minister, ministers and MLAs from all political parties sit together and take a decision to defer the Census until the NRC is updated, there would be no need for the bandh,” Sujata said.
She maintained that the demand was not driven by partisan politics but by concerns over the sequence in which the Census and NRC processes were being undertaken. According to her, conducting the Census without first addressing the demand for NRC updation could have serious implications for future demographic assessment and policy decisions in Manipur.
Sujata also questioned the elected representatives for remaining divided along political lines when issues affecting the larger interests of the state, she said, required a united response.
Taking a pointed swipe at the Chief Minister, she said political leaders should move beyond protests directed at rival parties and instead demonstrate their commitment by taking concrete steps on issues concerning the people.
She urged the Chief Minister and legislators to convene an all-party meeting immediately and arrive at a collective decision on deferring the Census, asserting that such an initiative could pave the way for withdrawal of the bandh.