Delimitation needs proper census, consensus : RB
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 25 2025: Former Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam has categorically stated that there must be a thorough census exercise and a consensus among all the communities before the existing boundaries of Assembly and Parliamentary Constituencies are redrawn in Manipur.

Speaking to The Sangai Express at his Thangmeiband Lourung-purel Leikai residence today, Radhabinod Koijam warned that any delimitation exercise based on incorrect census data will only invite massive unrest.

He said that any delimitation exercise is dependent on population figures, and as such, there should be correct and comprehensive census data before any delimitation is initiated.

Delimitation needs proper census, consensus : RB

If delimitation is carried out without correct census data, it would have serious repercussions and far-reaching consequences, he said.

There are reports of the presence of a large number of immigrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh in Manipur.

All these immigrants must be first identified and verified if any or how many of them could be enlisted in the State's population figure, Radhabinod Koijam said.

Asking whether the existing situation of Manipur is conducive for any census exercise, the former Chief Minister pointed out that huge population inflation was reported from some hill areas including Mao in the earlier census.

Population growth was very small in Imphal West, Imphal East and other valley areas but some hill areas reported unreasonable population growth to the scale of 200 to 300 per cent.

It was quite obvious that the census data were incorrect, he said.

If any delimitation is carried out based on such faulty and incorrect census data, it will create serious misunderstandings among the communities, he warned.

There may be people who lodged complaints against not carrying out or delaying the delimitation.

The complaint may not be untrue but carrying out delimitation based on incorrect census data just because the exercise has been delayed will only create more problems, Radhabinod said.

If there should be mutual understanding among the different communities and for this to become a reality, everything must be done truthfully, he said.

In order to address all misunderstandings and bring about lasting peace among the different communities, there should be proper census exercise, Radhabinod asserted.

He said that there are many errors in the electoral roll too.

There were reports of enlisting exaggerated numbers of family members in the previous census.

There were reports of a family of five enlisting 15 names and when the census enumerators demanded physical verification of the exaggerated family members, the family simply closed their door to the (enumerators), he remarked.

It is not a question of harbouring any ill-feeling at the prospect of hill districts gaining more Assembly seats at the cost of valley districts or vice versa.

It is more about doing things properly and based on facts, he added.

"If we have to build trust among the different communities, all Government activities must be done properly and meticulously", the former Chief Minister stated.

Even today, valley people cannot go to the hills and a large section of hill people cannot come to the valley.

Even as Union Home Minister Amit Shah gave instructions to ensure free movement on all highways and roads in Manipur, Kukis have shown no respect to the Union Home Minister, he remarked.

All the immigrants from Myanmar must be first identified.

The situation of Manipur is different from Assam, Nagaland and Mizoram.

Manipur is currently burning.

All non-indigenous people or illegal immigrants must be first removed from the census data, Radhabinod said.

If delimitation is done based on manipulated census data, it will be a huge gain for some communities and a devastating loss for others.

In such a scenario, there will not be any trust nor peace among the communities.

There must be a consensus among the communities that delimitation should be done based on only truth and correct census data, he added.