A public meeting attended by over 400 representatives for various organisations of the Meitei and Naga indigenous communities today severely criticised the Central Government over its handling of the Manipur crisis and demanded that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) be updated before the next Census is conducted in the state.
The meeting, held at Pallel Market in Kakching district, was jointly organised by the Native Peoples’ Committee, Manipur (NPCM), UCP, Meira Paibi and NPLKTLP.
Addressing the gathering, NPCM Co-Convenor Dr. L. Phaomei, Executive Committee member Trimson Saka, UCP Convenor M. Jiban, Meira Paibi representative M. Romita Devi, YVA Club Chairman Romen Meitei, SDO Club Secretary S. Rabi and UCP Co-Convenor M. Ojit Singh stressed that updating the NRC before the Census was essential to safeguard the rights, identity, land and future of the indigenous people of Manipur.
The speakers alleged that the prolonged crisis in the state had been aggravated by illegal immigration, demographic changes and disputes involving indigenous and non-indigenous populations. They urged the authorities to address these issues through constitutional and legal mechanisms before carrying out the Census.
The meeting also expressed strong dissatisfaction with what participants described as the Centre’s failure to sincerely address the Manipur crisis, alleging that the concerns and grievances of the Meitei and Naga indigenous communities have remained largely ignored.
Maintaining that their demand was aimed at protecting indigenous rights rather than targeting any particular community, the speakers voiced concern over alleged encroachment on ancestral lands by illegal immigrants and called for action in accordance with the law.
The gathering concluded with a resolution to strengthen unity and cooperation among Manipur’s indigenous communities and to collectively safeguard their land, identity, constitutional rights and the interests of future generations.