The Campaign for Just & Fair Delimitation (JFD) today intensified its demand for updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) before the conduct of the Census, with its leaders warning that any population enumeration carried out without verifying the citizenship status of residents would have far-reaching consequences for Manipur’s demographic and political future.
The demand was raised during a sit-in protest organised by the Joint Task Force of the JFD at Yaipha Thouni Community Hall, Keishampat Leimajam Leikai. The protest drew the participation of local residents, women and civil society members, who held placards bearing slogans such as “NRC Updation Before Census,” “No NRC, No Census,” and “No IDP Settlement Before Census.”
Speaking to media persons on the sidelines of the protest, JFD Convenor Jitendra Ningombam said the organisation’s stand remains unequivocal that the NRC must be updated before the Census is conducted. He argued that the accuracy and credibility of the Census would be seriously compromised if the exercise proceeds without first identifying genuine citizens.
The JFD leader also reiterated the organisation’s opposition to the settlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) before the Census, contending that such measures could influence demographic data and affect future delimitation and resource distribution.
