'Time to act, not talk': A Sanjoy urges BJP MLAs to push NRC-first policy with Centre
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 19 2026: Social activist Ahanthem Sanjoy has called on Manipur's BJP MLAs to go beyond mere statements and take a formal cabinet decision demanding that the NRC be updated before the Census is conducted.

Speaking to reporters in Kumbi on Wednesday, Sanjoy, who was a candidate from Kumbi Assembly Constituency in the last assembly election, questioned where the BJP's "Nation First" theory stands now.

"The country and the State are falling apart.

What are you waiting for? You don't need to go to Delhi alone.

Instead of making individual appeals to the Centre, take a formal State Government decision and submit it", he said.

Criticizing the State Government's inaction, Sanjoy said that while the JFD and its student wing have been intensifying agitations demanding NRC update before Census in Manipur, the Government has responded by harassing and intimidating students instead of listening to them.

He said the BJP MLA team's recent press conference announcing they would meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other central leaders to demand NRC before Census has left the people of Manipur surprised.

Sanjoy stressed that illegal immigrants who have entered from neighboring countries without proper documents must be identified and repatriated to their places of origin.

He demanded that the NRC be updated in Manipur with 1951 as the base year, and only then should the Census be conducted.

"If the Census is conducted first and illegal immigrants are included, it will severely affect the future of Manipur's indigenous and native communities.

Our political, cultural, economic, identity and historical rights will all go into the hands of outsiders", he warned.

The activist further said that if the BJP Government in the State is truly committed to protecting Manipur's unity and its indigenous communities, it should immediately convene a cabinet meeting, pass a resolution to defer the Census and to update the NRC first, and take that resolution to the Centre.

"It is not the time for MLAs to remain silent.

The Census process has already commenced.

We have moved beyond the stage of mere statements", Sanjoy added.

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