The Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD) has intensified its campaign demanding updation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) before the Census, with students staging a protest demonstration and forming a human chain in Imphal today.
The Student Wing of the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD), in association with students of Johnstone Higher Secondary School, Tamphasana Higher Secondary School, took out a protest march and raised slogans including “NRC Updation Before Census”, “No NRC, No Census” and “No IDP Settlement, No Census”.
Speaking during the protest, JFD Student Wing Convenor Naorem Wangamba said the demonstration was part of the campaign against the proposed Census, scheduled to begin on August 17. He said the demand had also been raised during a recent meeting at Classic Grande, where the government was urged to address concerns surrounding the exercise.
Wangamba said students and members of the public had joined the campaign as they felt the government had not taken a satisfactory position on the issue. He also referred to the prolonged stay of displaced people in relief camps and demands for separate administrations, claiming that such developments could have implications for the state’s existing social structure and the future of the younger generation.
He urged the government to take a clear decision acceptable to the people before the Census begins on August 17.
Meanwhile, Elangbam Velentina, Secretary of the Girls Common Room of TG Higher Secondary School, said students opposed conducting the Census while several issues affecting the people remained unresolved. She warned that further protests could be organised if the concerns were not addressed.
The JFD Student Wing said it would continue its campaign for NRC updation before the Census and against any settlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) without addressing the concerns raised by the people.
Longjam Ratan, Organisation Secretary of the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation, says, “If we are invited through the proper channel to discuss this issue, we are ready to sit at the negotiating table and discuss it. But we demand that the NRC be updated before the Census process, and until the NRC process is initiated, the Census should be deferred. This is our sole demand. We will not change this demand.”
Meanwhile, a sit in protest was staged at the ground of the Wal United Youths Club, Wangkhei Angom Leikai, Imphal East. Leaders and representatives of various organisations from the hills and valley participated in the participated and shared their views on the issue. During the sit in protest
Anandi Shimrah, Executive Member of the Women’s Wing of the Indigenous People’s Forum, Manipur (IPFM), has appealed to the people to join the ongoing movement in large numbers, stressing the need to update the National Register of Citizens (NRC) before conducting the Census.
She warned that conducting the Census without first updating the NRC could have serious consequences for both the Meitei and Naga communities.