The Manipur People’s Party (MPP) has strongly condemned the decision to conduct the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur without clearly adopting 1951 as the base year, accusing the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in the state of ignoring past agreements and the state’s historical position.
In a statement, MPP General Secretary (Media) Arambam Karamjit Singh said the government’s announcement on September 2 to undertake the NRC during the eighth session of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, following approval from the Government of India, had failed to settle the crucial question of the base year.
The MPP said the 1951 base year had been repeatedly discussed and agreed upon in the past. It cited understandings reached during 1980–81 between the then Chief Minister RK Dorendro Singh and the All Manipur Students’ Union and All Manipur Students’ Coordination Committee, followed by another agreement between the Manipur administration and the All Manipur Students’ Union during President’s Rule in 1983–84.
The party questioned how the government could proceed with the NRC without first settling the base year and accused it of sidelining established positions on the issue.
The MPP warned that any attempt to conduct the NRC without 1951 as the base year could have far-reaching consequences for Manipur and demanded that the Government of India and the Manipur Government immediately reconsider the decision.
It also called for consultation with the people and stakeholders of Manipur before taking any further step on the NRC.
