"No NRC, No Census" protests continue
Source: The Sangai Express

Bishnupur/Thoubal, August 27 2026: Denouncing census activities, locals including womenfolk and students staged protest demonstration in several places today.

Locals and students of Lilong staged a protest demonstration demanding the Government to update the National Register of Citizens (NRC) to detect and identify illegal immigrants in Manipur.

During the protest demonstration, organised by the Darul Uloom Markaz under the aegis of Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD), the protesters held placards that read "No NRC, No Census" and "No IDP settlement, No Census" .

United Meitei Pangal Committee (UMPC) Manipur advisor Islam Makakcha said the public shall not take part in any census related exercise until the Government takes steps to update the NRC .

The census exercise, he said, must be conducted only after the National Register of Citizens is updated and people who have been displaced by the ongoing conflict are allowed to return and resettle at their original places of residence.

Manipur has been facing the issue of illegal infiltration for decades.

If NRC is not conducted soon enough, there will certainly be huge demographic imbalances and landslide changes in the political structure which could threaten the State's identity and integrity, he added.

Census prior to NRC risks recording illegal immigrants as genuine citizens.

For the census to record clear and genuine data, the Government must first update the NRC, he said.

In Bishnupur, women vendors of Moirang Keithel staged a protest demonstration, endorsing JFD's call for NRC prior to Census.

The protest demonstration was organised by the Moirang Apunba Meira Paibi Ima Lup (MAMPIL), Kege Moirang Kendra Apunba Lup (KEMKAL) and Moirang Bazar Keithel Phambi Apunba Ima Lup.

The womenfolk briefly blocked the road to show their protest against the Government's plan to continue census related operations.

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