IT News
New Delhi, March 27:
During Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha today, MP Leishemba Sanajaoba raised concerns regarding the rising number of illegal immigrants in Manipur’s electoral constituencies and the urgent need to address the issue before any delimitation process takes place.
MP Sanajaoba emphasized that before redrawing electoral boundaries, the presence of illegal immigrants in Manipur must be thoroughly examined and necessary actions should be taken to prevent any adverse effects on the state’s law and order situation.
Citing data from 1969 to 2024, he highlighted that in the five districts of Kangpokpi, Tengnoupal, Chandel, Churachandpur, and Pherzawl, the number of recognized villages has drastically increased from 731 to 1,624, marking an addition of 893 new villages over 50 years. This includes 122 villages in the last five years alone.
He further pointed out that while Naga communities have seen a moderate village increase from 527 to 576 (adding 49 villages in the same period), another community has experienced a much higher village expansion, raising concerns over its potential political impact in the state. He asserted that this rapid growth is aimed at altering Manipur’s political representation and demographic structure.
MP Sanajaoba warned that illegal immigrants must not be allowed to integrate into India’s administrative system. He stressed that their involvement in electoral politics through illegal infiltration has serious implications, particularly along the Indo-Myanmar border.
He urged that before delimitation is carried out, National Register of Citizens (NRC) should be implemented based on the 1951 records to identify and remove illegal immigrants from the electoral rolls. Failure to do so, he warned, could lead to a severe demographic imbalance, which would not only impact the indigenous communities of Manipur but also threaten the state’s political and social stability.
In conclusion, MP Sanajaoba urged the Indian government to take immediate action to prevent further demographic shifts and safeguard the interests of Manipur’s native population.
