No NRC, No delimitation, says FOCS
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 22 2025: Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS) has declared that they will not allow the delimitation exercise in the state without proper implementation of National Register of Citizen (NRC) based on scientific data.

In a release, FOCS reminded that the Supreme Court of India issued an order on March 17 directing completion of the pending delimitation process for Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh.

However, such order needs to be discussed thoroughly in the context of Manipur, given the ongoing ethnic conflict in the state, it said.

The Federation continued that delimitation exercise based on population amidst the communal conflict in the state would be a big challenge.

"The enumeration process, if carried out without considering the ground reality, will not yield accurate data.

Conducting delimitation exercise amidst the current unrest could lead to misunderstandings among the ethnic communities", the release warned.

"We will not accept the delimitation process if it is not based on scientific data by conducting National Register of Citizen (NRC)", FOCS remarked.

Pointing out the demographic imbalances in the state, it noted that there has been huge influx of illegal immigrants in Churachandpur, Tengnoupal, Chandel, and Kamjong districts due to the civil war between pro-democracy forces and the military junta in neighbouring Myanmar.

Moreover, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also made a statement in the parliament linking the ongoing crisis in the state to the influx of illegal immigrants from Myanmar crossing through the porous border, it argued.

The Federation also cited a state government's report about 934 new unrecognised villages in protected and reserved forest areas near Chin-Kuki inhabited places, while relating the issue regarding unnatural growth of voters in the two assembly constituencies.

Clarifying its stance, FOCS stated that it is not against delimitation process, however, delimitation exercise without detecting illegal immigrants by conducting NRC would mean suppressing the indigenous people and give advantage to the outsiders.

"So, the sentiments of the people should be considered seriously and the people will not accept the blanket method in delimitation exercise.

It would be appropriate if delimitation is done considering the dynamics and problems of the each state", the release added.

Comment