MMTU negates CM's statement on NRC
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 26 2026: The Meetei (Meitei) Tribe Union (MMTU) has categorically stated that there is no rule which says census operations must be completed first before updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) .

A press release issued by the MMTU asserted that there is no truth in Chief Minister Y Khemchand's statement, "Census operations must be completed first before updating the NRC .

NRC was updated with respect to Assam only completing census operations".

The Chief Minister made inconsistent statements regarding Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and census during the State Assembly session in March this year, the MMTU remarked.

As per a ruling of the Supreme Court, a gazette notification was issued in 2013 for updating the NRC in Assam.

The process of updating the NRC started in 2015 and completed in 2019.Before that, the census operations for the State of Assam had been completed earlier in 2011 .

The census exercise scheduled for 2021 will be conducted in 2026 across the country.

The census exercise in Assam was done based on the census data of March 24, 1971 in accordance with the Assam Accord.

It used 14 documents, the MMTU said.

The process of updating the NRC categorised the residents of Assam as Assamese citizens, Indian citizens and foreigners.

The process could identify around 40 lakh foreigners.

A second list was published later and the Foreigners' Tribunal declared 31 lakh people as foreigners.

At present, around 19 lakh foreigners are living in Assam, it said.

The MMTU asserted that 1951 should be adopted as the base year if the NRC should be updated with respect to Manipur.

As done in Assam, all residents of Manipur must be categorised as Manipuri citizens, Indian citizens and foreigners.

Indians who wish to stay in Manipur must be given Inner Line Permits but foreigners should be deported to their native countries in accordance with the Foreigner Act 1946 .

There is no need for completing census operations before updating the NRC, the MMTU asserted.

However, there is a possibility of first updating the NRC and excluding identified foreign Nationals from the census exercise, it said.

It said that illegal immigrants from Myanmar are brought to Manipur by Kuki militants based in Myanmar and Manipur, and they (illegal immigrants from Myanmar) are being protected by the Government of India.

Apart from granting Indian citizenship, they are being given constitutional safeguards as Scheduled Tribes.

In addition, local politicians have been using the illegal immigrants as vote banks by giving them protection.

The Immigration and Foreigner Act 2025 authorises the State Government to identify illegal immigrants and take up legal action against them.

But the Government of Manipur has not taken up any action till date, the MMTU said.

The State Government has not yet taken up any step which can be initiated under the Foreigner Act 1946 and Passport Act 1922, it said.

Now, Kuki immigrants from Myanmar have occupied two-third of the total geographical area of Manipur.

Immigrant population has been rising alarmingly in Tengnoupal, Chandel and Pherzawl, it said.

Moreover, the illegal immigrants have been waging a sustained aggression against the indigenous people.

The State Government must focus on tackling these critical issues, it added.

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