Manipur Government spokesperson Dr Sapam Ranjan on Saturday appealed to the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD), Manipur, to put its deadline on hold, assuring that the State Government was taking seriously the organisation’s memorandum seeking updation of the NRC, 1951.
Speaking to the media at his residence, Dr Ranjan said the government was sincere about the memorandum submitted by JFD and was making efforts to implement the demands contained in it.
“The government is sincerely trying to put all of them into action,” he said.
He said one of JFD’s longstanding demands was that the NRC should be conducted before the Census, adding that the Census in Manipur had already been postponed.
Dr Ranjan said the government would continue its efforts to address the concerns and aspirations of the people of Manipur.
“In this regard, I would like to request, I would like to appeal to the JFD to put the deadline on hold. And then let us all work together for the betterment of our state, for the future of our people, and for the betterment of all the sections of society of our state,” he said.
Emphasising the seriousness of the issue, Dr Ranjan said the government would take up every matter with utmost sincerity.
“We are all in the same boat,” he said, appealing to JFD to cooperate with the government and work together for the betterment of the state.
JFD’s memorandum had sought a series of time-bound measures for the updating of the NRC, 1951, in Manipur.
Among its key demands, the organisation sought the empowerment, strengthening and reconstitution of the Manipur State Population Commission with appropriate powers, resources and institutional mechanisms to deal with population-related matters.
It also called for the preparation and publication of a comprehensive white paper on illegal migration based on verifiable and authenticated records and official data, which it said could serve as a reference document for the updating of the NRC, 1951.
JFD further demanded the tracing, preservation, verification and authentication of the original NRC, 1951, along with other historical records relating to population, citizenship and residency in the state.
The organisation also called for the formulation and implementation of a comprehensive State Population Policy by December 2026 to address demographic changes and related concerns.
Based on the proposed white paper, JFD urged the State Government to approach the Centre for updating the NRC, 1951, retaining 1951 as the cut-off base year.
The memorandum had urged the State Government to initiate some or all of the proposed measures by September 2026.
It also appealed to the Chief Minister, Home Minister and the State Government to take up the matter with the Centre for complete deferment of the forthcoming population enumeration in Manipur and for early initiation of the NRC updation process.
JFD had also appealed to MLAs, as representatives of the people, to support the demand by signing a declaration enclosed with the memorandum.
Dr Sapam Ranjan’s appeal comes amid JFD’s demand for action within the deadline set by the organisation, with the government now urging the group to keep the deadline on hold and allow further efforts on the issues raised in its memorandum.
