MLA Imo urges Amit Shah for NRC, axing bogus voters
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 24 2025: Sagolband MLA RK Imo has submitted a representation to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking implementation of critical measures before commencing the delimitation exercise in Manipur.

The representation came in the wake of the recent directive of the Supreme Court mandating the completion of the delimitation exercise in a few states, including Manipur, within the next three months.

While welcoming the Supreme Court's intent to ensure fair representation, RK Imo stressed the need to address certain critical issues in Manipur to uphold integrity of the process and ensure inclusivity.

MLA Imo urges Amit Shah for NRC, axing bogus voters

In his representation, RK Imo asserted that "given the sensitive socio-political dynamics of Manipur, particularly in light of the disturbances and turmoil witnessed in the past two years, it is imperative that foundational measures be implemented before the delimitation exercise begins" .

According to MLA RK Imo, three primary concerns need to be prioritised to ensure a transparent and inclusive process with the first being the completion of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state to identify genuine citizens of India and the state.

"This step is fundamental to ensuring that representation within the democratic structure is reserved solely for bonafide citizens," he asserted, adding that without the completion of the NRC, the legitimacy of the electoral process could be compromised, making it essential to finalise the NRC process before delimitation takes place.

The second concern pertains to the identification and removal of illegal immigrants and bogus voters.

While acknowledging the ongoing efforts by the Central Government to detect and identify illegal immigrants, RK Imo urged for the completion of these efforts at the earliest to ensure a more robust voter base in the state by rectifying anomalies in the voter list.

He further noted that the Election Commission of India's (ECI) initiative to link Voter ID with Aadhaar is a commendable step towards ensuring a transparent and credible electoral process.

He, however, stressed that for Manipur, it is essential to first identify and eliminate fake Aadhaar cards to ensure a reliable and accurate linkage.

Referring to the state government's revelation under the leadership of the then chief minister N Biren, which uncovered 65,000 fake Aadhaar cards, RK Imo called it as a grave threat to the rights and identity of the indigenous people.

He argued that addressing this issue is not just necessary but urgent to guarantee a pure and precise linkage for a transparent and reliable system.

The third and most critical demand made by RK Imo is the provision of conpeople in the 40 assembly constituencies in the valley region.

He pointed out that these constituencies are currently categorised mostly as general seats and emphasised that safeguarding the rights and representation of the indigenous valley population is crucial.

He called for constitutional protection of the 40 seats, to ensure they are reserved for the indigenous people of the valley, while noting that various seats are already reserved for the hill areas and underscored that this step is essential to prevent demographic imbalance and preserve the socio-cultural identity of the region.

The MLA reiterated that addressing these strategic and sensitive issues before initiating the delimitation exercise will not only ensure that the process is fair and transparent but also reinforce public trust in democratic governance.

He then urged the Union Home Minister to direct the Delimitation Commission and authorities concerned to prioritise these measures to ensure a just and inclusive outcome, contributing to long-term peace and stability in the region.