TAL opposes Census before NRC update
Source: The Sangai Express
Thoubal, August 18 2026:
The Thoubal Apunba Lup (TAL) has strongly opposed the State Government's move to conduct the Cent sus before updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur, terming the move an attempt to undermine the indigenous communities of the State.
In a statement, TAL said the NRC must be updated before the Census is conducted.
While acknowledging that the Census is an important exercise for planning and policy formulation, the organisation said the presence of alleged illegal immigrants in the State must first be identified and addressed.
TAL maintained that the Census should be conducted only after identifying and deporting illegal immigrants, adding that proceeding with the exercise without updating the NRC could have serious implications for the indigenous population of Manipur.
The organisation further claimed that no training programme related to the Census could be conducted in Thoubal district and warned that it would impose restrictions on such activities.
TAL also condemned what it described as police brutality and misuse of power against students participating in protests against the Census at various places in the State.
The organisation urged the Government to defer the Census and conduct it only after updating the NRC, stating that the exercise should be carried out with the interests and protection of the people of Manipur in mind.




