Update NRC: Student bodies
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 24 2018: A joint body of Democratic Students Alliance of Manipur (DESAM), All Naga Students Association, Manipur (ANSAM) and Apunba Ireipakki Maheiroi Sinpanglup (AIMS), has submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister to immediately update the National Register of Citizens (NRC) of Manipur with regard to the urgent need for the survival of the indigenous people of the State.

Speaking to media persons at DESAM's office today evening, its president Salam Aakash informed that the Chief Minister has given a positive response to the memorandum submitted by the student bodies.

Salam Aakash narrated that after Manipur merged into India on October 15, 1949, the population of the State increased sharply due to the influx of foreigners/non-locals.

The students of the State took out anti-foreigner movements in 1970 and 1980 and as an outcome, the student organisations and the State Government signed an agreement on July 22 and August 5, of 1980 .

Update NRC: Student bodies

It was agreed that the State Government will commence the process of identifying and detecting foreigners from August 1 of 1980 and the question of foreigners was to be defined by the Constitution of India and the law.

He said that the foreigners would be identified on the basis of the census report of 1951, National Register of Citizen 1951 and the village directory, with 1951 as the reference for the base year, as per the agreements.

Aakash said that the State Government also agreed to evict/deport the illegal migrants from reserved areas, protected areas, khas land, starting from October 7, 1980, and to take up forestation in the evicted areas.

Informing that the said agreement was reaffirmed on November 9, 1994, DESAM's president, stressed on the importance of upgrading the National Register of Citizens with the State Government in the light of the demand for Inner Line Permit system in the State and the large scale influx of illegal migrants.

He further appealed to the State Government as well as those involved to refrain from any kind of back door policies while taking up NRC work.

On the other hand, ANSAM president, Seth Shatsang said that foreigners issue is not a new thing for the State and the student bodies have been demanding the State, from time to time, to take up steps to check the influx of foreigners in the State.

The people are protesting and demanding a law to protect them due to the apprehension that the non-locals/foreigners will occupy their land and becorne the majority.

Mentioning that JCILPS took up the task of demanding implementation of ILP in the State due to the large scale influx of non-locals in the State, Shatsang claimed that the root cause of the ST demand and the demand for ILP in the State is due to the foreigners issue.

He stated that the three student bodies have joined together to look into the issue and urged other student bodies to join hands as well.

Shatsang also said that the Government should take up steps to define who are the indigenous people and who are the foreigners properly.

However, he clarified that the steps taken Up by the student bodies are not against the foreigners/tourists visiting the State but against the large influx of illegal migrants in the State.