The Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD) on Thursday announced preparations for a statewide shutdown of all Central and State government offices from September 11 if the Centre fails to accept its demand for updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur using 1951 as the base year.
Speaking at a press meet at the Citizens Club, Soibam Leikai, JFD Convenor Jeetendra Ningomba said the organisation and the people of Manipur had been pressing the government for the NRC update for a long time, followed by the Census exercise, with 1951 retained as the base year.
He said the JFD had set September 10 as the deadline for the Manipur government to convey the demand to the Government of India and for the Centre to issue an official order on the matter. However, no such action had been communicated to the public so far, he said.
Jeetendra warned that if the Manipur government leadership failed to travel to Delhi and pursue the demand with the Centre by Thursday, the JFD would proceed with its proposed shutdown from September 11.
The proposed action would cover State and Central government offices, including electricity, water supply, medical, agriculture, courts, post offices and banks, he said.
Jeetendra further warned that if the government attempted to suppress the movement, the JFD and the people of Manipur could resort to various forms of democratic agitation. He said the government would have to bear responsibility for any adverse consequences arising from such actions.