Shiv Sena calls for verification of citizens before delimitation
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 23 2025: A delimitation exercise for Manipur that has been proposed is welcome, but it should be done only after verification of genuine citizens, said Shiv Sena Manipur unit president, Dr M Tombi today.

Speaking to reporters at the Shiv Sena office at Babupara, Dr M Tombi said implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) is a must to secure and safeguard Manipur and its citizens' interests.

"The Supreme Court has recently granted three months to conduct delimitation exercises in some NE States including Manipur.

This is a positive step, and we welcome it.

However, the exercise should be conducted only after electoral rolls are verified and non-citizens are excluded," Dr M Tombi said.

Between 1991 census and 2001 census, there have been "abnormal growths" of population in some hill districts.

Illegal immigrants possessing fake Aadhaar cards and settling here illegally would be a challenge in conducting delimitation exercise, he said.

For the delimitation exercise to be effective and true, all illegal immigrants who infiltrated into Manipur from Myanmar must be identified first, he asserted, hinting that an NRC exercise is a must before the proposed delimitation exercise is carried out.

A delimitation exercise without detecting and identifying illegal immigrants first would be a blunder in the democratic process, and the number of Assembly seats of the valley may shrink, he said.

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