IT News
Imphal, Oct 17:
Tensions are rising in Manipur following the Supreme Court’s October 17 ruling that upheld the 1971 base year for citizenship determination in Assam. The decision, delivered by a five-judge bench, has sparked concerns among various groups in Manipur, who fear that the ruling could influence the state’s own efforts to address migration issues and citizenship verification.
The Meetei/Meitei Tribe Union (MMTU) voiced its apprehension that the ruling might adversely impact the state’s indigenous communities. In 2022, the Manipur Legislative Assembly passed a resolution to adopt 1961 as the base year for the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state, a move aimed at safeguarding the rights of the native population. The MMTU has called for urgent discussions on how this recent development might affect the state, particularly given Manipur’s long-standing issues with cross-border migration.
The Supreme Court ruling stems from the Assam Accord, signed in 1985 after years of protests led by the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) against illegal migration. The Accord set March 25, 1971, as the cut-off date for citizenship, a decision linked to the Indo-Pak war that saw a massive influx of refugees from Bangladesh into Assam. In contrast, Manipur’s NRC proposal has sought to anchor citizenship to 1961, a decade earlier, to address concerns about the state’s growing non-local population.
Manipur has witnessed a significant rise in the population of the Kuki-Zo community, particularly in hill districts like Churachandpur, where 560 new villages have been established in the last 50 years. Unofficial estimates suggest that as many as 2,700 new settlements have appeared across the state, adding to fears of demographic shifts. Many locals claim that unchecked migration from neighboring Myanmar is the primary cause, with allegations that migrants have obtained fraudulent documents such as voter IDs, Aadhaar, and PAN cards.
The introduction of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in Manipur in 2020 aimed to regulate the influx of non-locals into the state. However, critics argue that the system has not been adequately enforced, with reports of increasing numbers of Kuki-Zo migrants being added to voter rolls. Churachandpur alone now has 1,42,732 registered voters, making it one of the highest voting districts in the state.
“The demographic changes we are witnessing in the hill districts are alarming,” said a political analyst based in Imphal. “These shifts are not just about population growth but also about the potential long-term impact on Manipur’s political and social landscape.”
The MMTU and other civil society groups are calling for stringent measures to protect the rights of indigenous communities. They have urged the government to expedite the implementation of the NRC based on the 1961 base year and ensure strict enforcement of laws to prevent illegal migration.