The Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD) has warned that it will launch a mass movement and a non-cooperation campaign if the Manipur government fails to take a decision within one week to defer the Census.
The warning was issued during a protest programme organized under the aegis of JFD by the Apunba Nupi Lup (ANUL), Moirang Unit. The organisations maintained that while they are open to cooperating with the Census, such cooperation would depend on the government addressing concerns related to population verification.
A protest rally was carried out from Moirang Bazar to Moirang Chingkhei Lampak, with a large number of participants holding placards bearing slogans such as “No NRC, No Census,” “No Free Movement, No Census,” and “No IDP Settlement, No Census.”
Following the rally, a public meeting was held where three resolutions were adopted. These included suspending the Census process until completion of proper identification measures, implementing the National Register of Citizens (NRC) prior to the Census, and submitting a memorandum to the state government demanding that the Census be conducted only after full implementation of NRC and related mechanisms.
JFD Finance Secretary Sunil Karam stated that the government’s plan to begin the Census from April is unacceptable without addressing these issues. He cautioned that failure to defer the exercise could lead to intensified agitation across the state.
The organisation also questioned the government’s reluctance to undertake comprehensive population identification, warning that proceeding without such measures could result in inclusion of unverified individuals in official records. It further expressed concern that continued inaction may affect the demographic balance and trigger widespread public unrest.