Student bodies to rally for NRC in April
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 21 2023: Seven student bodies, namely DESAM, KSA, SUK, MSF, AIM, ANSAM and another organisation would be organising a mega public rally in pursuance of the demand for updating National Register of Citizen (NRC) in the state in April.

Informing this during a press meet held at KSA office, Khoyathong, here, on Tuesday, KSA president S Bidyananda said that they have been raising the demand for implementing NRC in the state to the Central government with the objective to ensure constitutional safeguard of the indigenes.

They also organised a sit-in protest in coordination with different student bodies and CSOs at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi on March 17 after which they submitted memorandum to the union home minister Amit Shah, he recounted.

Bidyananda cautioned all concerned that illegal migrants are entering on daily basis and have started settling in the state by claiming ownership of state land through various deceptive means with support of some insincere officials.

While claiming that many such infiltrators are involved in mass deforestation in reserved and protected forest areas and illegal poppy farming, he expressed serious concern that such unrestrained influx of illegal migrants, their settlement and involvement in illegal activities are threatening the very survival of the indigenous communities of the state.

In such a situation, updating the NRC has become the only option to identify these illegal migrants and secure a future for the indigenous people, he said.

Stating that the student bodies will organise awareness programme on NRC exercise in different educational institutes apart from the mega public rally to be held in April, the KSA president called for public support and participation in the rally.

He also urged the 60 MLAs to extend their support in the rally and also in mounting pressure on the Centre for carrying out the NRC exercise.

S Bidyananda further demanded the government to translate into action the resolution adopted in the recently held assembly session to set up a population commission in the state.

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