NRC backed
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 22 2023:
The Global Manipur Federation (GMF) has endorsed the demand of the United Naga Council (UNC) to update the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur.
The Federation, in a statement, said that the implementation of NRC has become a pressing issue in Manipur to identify the genuine citizens and deport the 'unqualified' foreigners.
GMF also said that implementation of NRC with 1951 as the base year can help settle the issue of illegal-immigrants in Manipur.
When there is substantiated evidence of immigration, a legitimate approach can be executed to resolve various problems being created by the influx of illegal foreigners, it said.
Saying that there has been civil and political unrest in Manipur since the last few decades due to illegal immigration, the Federation continued that the abnormal growth of the Kuki population is also a matter of concern to the indigenous people as it poses a serious threat to demography, land and resources of the State.
GMF claimed that the Kukis want the population of their kindred tribes to grow so as to occupy wider electoral space in Manipur and its adjacent region.
The primary concern now is that the influx of Kukis has resulted in widespread poppy plantations and narco-terror activities leading to environmental degradation and ecological deterioration, the Federation continued and added that NRC, even if implemented, will not be successful unless their is political will to safeguard the bonafide citizens.
The Federation urged the Government to go ahead with NRC with 1951 as the base year to identify the genuine citizens.