MJCC stages sit-in protest demanding NRC before Census
Source: The Sangai Express

Thoubal, March 31 2026: Demanding the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) prior to the conduct of the Census, the Meitei Community Joint Coordinating Committee (MCJCC), Waithou, Kiyam, Kiyam Siphai, Haokha and Thoubal Khunou, staged a sit-in protest demonstration today at Thoubal Babu Bazar.

Taking part in the protest, Women's Wing secretary Pebam Indirani stated that conducting the Census amid the prevailing situation in Manipur is ill-timed and inappropriate.

She expressed concern over the significant rise in population recorded in the 2011 Census and alleged that there has been a noticeable increase in the number of outsiders in the State in recent years.

Indrani further claimed that even Union Home Minister Amit Shah had earlier indicated that the violence in Manipur was triggered by those individuals coming from outside.

In such a scenario, she asserted that proceeding with the Census without first identifying illegal immigrants is unacceptable.

Highlighting population growth trends, she stated that in the past few years there had been a significant growth in population in some hill districts, stating that while the valley district witnessed an increase of 18 percent, nearly 60 percent growth was recorded in hill districts, terming such figures as unrealistic.

She stressed that proper identification of illegal immigrants must precede any Census exercise.

During the protest, demonstrators held placards bearing slogans such as "Census after NRC", "Identify illegal immigrants first", "Resettled IDPs", "Restore free movement on National highways" .

Comment