'Set up Population Commission, prepare NRC'
Protect indigenes call sounded
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 22 2022:
The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) and the United Naga Council (UNC) have urged the State Government to take a concrete decision to establish Manipur State Population Commission (MSPC) and prepare an NRC with a specific base year so as to identify the illegal immigrants in the monsoon session of Manipur Legislative Assembly which is scheduled to begin from July 25 .
A joint statement issued today by COCOMI coordinator L Ratankumar and UNC secretary S Milan further urged the State Government to formulate a law to prevent establishment of new villages unlawfully.
The two bodies exuded confidence that the Members of the House would discuss the matter thoroughly and give a positive response so as to save the indigenous people of Manipur from being overwhelmed by outsiders.
COCOMI and UNC reminded that they have submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister N Biren Singh to look into the demographic imbalance in Manipur which insidiously affects the lives of the indigenes and do the needful on June 4, 2022 .
Continuing that copies of the memorandum were also submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on June 10 last, COCOMI and UNC maintained that the memorandum highlighted the need to prepare NRC and return the illegal immigrants to their native countries or prepare a special arrangement for them which does not hurt the interest of the indigenous people.
The memorandum also urged the Government to establish Manipur State Population Commission to scientifically collect information on demographic and other related issues.
Maintaining that there are several unregistered villages in Manipur, the joint statement urged the State Government to make sure no new villages are set up illegally and also not give any recognition to villages which were set up illegally.
This demographic imbalance seriously affects the socio-political and economic condition of the indigenous people and their cultural aspects, COCOMI and UNC said and added that these illegal immigrants also interfere in preserving the identity of the indigenous people.
Taking all these into account, the joint statement urged the State Government to establish Manipur State Population Commission (MSPC), prepare a NRC and formulate a law to prevent establishment of new villages in Manipur unlawfully.