Convenor of the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD) Committee, Manipur Jeetendra Ningomba has rejected recent statements by state government spokespersons Th. Radheshyam and Sapam Ranjan on the Census and NRC, accusing the government of creating confusion over the issue and failing to provide a clear written assurance on the 1951 base year for NRC updation.
Speaking to the media, Jeetendra said the JFD was compelled to respond to the statements made at a press conference on September 13, particularly the claims that the Census could proceed in accordance with public demand and that the Centre had been approached to ensure that Census operations in Manipur would not be conducted until NRC updation based on 1951 was completed.
He questioned the claim that the Census had been conducted in accordance with the wishes of the people, pointing to the Extraordinary Gazette notification issued by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner on September 5. According to Jeetendra, the notification allows the house-listing exercise in Manipur from September 1 to 30, 2026, and does not state that the Census will be halted until NRC updation is completed.
He said there was still a possibility of another notification being issued later, but maintained that the existing notification did not establish that the Census would be withheld until the NRC process was completed.
Jeetendra also disputed the claim that the Centre had accepted the State Assembly’s position that the Census should not be conducted until NRC updation and that the NRC’s base year would be 1951. He said the resolution adopted by the Assembly did not explicitly state that 1951 would be the base year for NRC updation.
At the same time, he described the reported initiative by a team of MLAs led by the Home Minister to approach the Centre and implement the Assembly’s decision as a positive step, but said the government must make the outcome and commitments obtained from the Centre public.
Jeetendra said the JFD’s decision to intensify its agitation, including closure of its office and other forms of protest, was prompted by what it considers the government’s failure to adequately respond to public demands. He said the objective was not to cause hardship to the people but to ensure that the government’s actions are aligned with public concerns.
He warned that the JFD would intensify its agitation if the government proceeded with the Census without first addressing the NRC issue. He also urged the government to clearly communicate to the public what assurances had been obtained from the Centre.
Jeetendra alleged that people of Manipur had not received their legitimate rights and benefits despite prolonged demands, and argued that the government’s failure to address such grievances had contributed to the present situation.
He said the JFD would continue its agitation and urged the Centre and the State government to take concrete steps to resolve the NRC-Census issue and prevent further unrest.