Detect, deport illegals before delimitation: JFD
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 25 2025: Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD) convenor Jeetendra Ningombam has declared that no delimitation exercise would be allowed in the state until a proper guideline to identify illegal immigrants is established.

He further demanded the government of India to keep in abeyance the delimitation process.

He made the statement during a public meeting on census and delimitation, organised in collaboration with Pourabi Development Committee (PDC) at Pourabi community hall on Friday.

Detect, deport illegals before delimitation: JFD

The meeting was attended by JFD secretary organisation L Ratan, secretary (information and public relation) K Mahara-bi, secretary (finance) Sunil Karam, PDC president N Selung and former president K Samungou, former secretary S Shyamkishwor and former vice president K Achou.

Jeetendra stated that while no one objects to the government's vision to conduct the delimitation process, the same must be held based on the authentic census report devoid of any illegal immigrants.

He pointed out that the primary cause of the on-going conflict is illegal immigration and as such, the NRC must be implemented first, followed by deportation of illegal immigrants before going ahead with the exercise.

In addition, there is restriction in movement in the state and the current administration is unable to properly function in the hill districts.

As such, carrying out the delimitation exercise amidst such a situation would be akin to treating an itch rather than addressing the issue of illegal immigrants.

According to Jeetendra, there is high possibility of illegal immigrants being recorded in the census.

Thus, no delimitation exercise should be carried out until the census is done, he said, while demanding the exercise to be postponed in Manipur as per Section 3 of the Census Act, 1984.JFD secretary (organisation) L Ratan said that the influx of illegal immigrants has strangled the state, with the most of the influx being from the neighbouring country of Myanmar, followed by Bangladesh and Nepal.

"It is inevitable for people from a populous place to flock to a sparsely populated region.

However, there is no regulation in place to check the influx," he contended, cautioning that the territorial integrity and unity of Manipur is currently under threat.

Of the total geographical size of Manipur, the valley area is only 10 percent but settled by both the Meeteis and other communities.

However, the Meeteis cannot reside in the hills.

In such a situation, it is time for all to come together and think the best way to save each other instead of hurling mud at one another, he remarked.

Ratan then stressed the need for enforcing guidelines against illegal immigration, including deportation, while demanding a delay in census and delimitation exercise until the guidelines are in place.

"Or else, it would give way to illegal immigrants to continue to occupy the land, " he cautioned.

"No one is objecting to the government's attempt to carry out the census and delimitation exercise, but only demanding for the delimitation to be done based on the authentic data," Ratan reiterated.