No budging from 'NRC first' stand : JFD
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 23 2026: The Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD) has appealed to the MLAs and CSO delegates who are presently at Delhi to meet Central leaders and not to retract from the common standpoint that no census operations must be carried out in Manipur until and unless the National Register of Citizens (NRC) is updated with 1951 as the base year.

Speaking to media persons at Citizens' Club, Soibam Leikai today, JFD organisation secretary Longjam Ratankumar remarked that some ruling MLAs, representing the State Government, have been camping at Delhi, to meet Central leaders on the issue of NRC following widespread protest by JFD and the public.

No budging from 'NRC first' stand : JFD

This is a positive step, though late, he said.

Representatives of some civil society organisations are also at Delhi to pursue the same issue, he added.

The JFD wanted the State Government to go to Delhi with a Cabinet resolution and a white paper highlighting the existing restive situation, grievances of IDPs and the issue of illegal immigrants.

The JFD, MLAs and representatives of certain CSOs have been exerting pressure simultaneously to get the NRC updated.

However, if any organisation or individual tries to sidetrack or undermine the collective movement of "No NRC, No Census", the individuals/organisations concerned must be held accountable for any untoward incident resulting thereof, Ratankumar said.

Those who have been objecting to the collective demand for updating the NRC with 1951 as the base year have revealed by their own action that they are not natives of Manipur, he said.

He said that the first population census of Manipur was conducted in 1881 .

After Manipur was merged into the Indian Union, another census exercise was carried out in 1951 and there are records that the NRC was also carried out in 1951, Ratankumar said.

It is rather surprising that some people have been saying that they were not covered by the NRC exercise in 1951 because the State's transport and road infrastructure were very poor, the JFD organisation secretary remarked.

Naga people who settle in higher hills have been demanding updation of the NRC.

As such, all those people who have been objecting to the demand for updating the NRC with 1951 as the base year are illegal immigrants, he asserted.

Saying that the JFD remains steadfast on its stated position and committed to the ongoing movement, Ratankumar appealed to all sections of people to continue with different forms of agitation such as march to MLAs' residences to elicit their positions on the NRC issue, sit-in-protest, protest, torch rallies etc .

Barring those associated with essential services, all Government offices will be boycotted and picketed, he said.

As indicated by the continuing training programmes of census enumerators and supervisors, the State Government has scant respect for the people's voice and will, he added.