If Census comes before NRC...JFD rolls up sleeves to meet any eventuality
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 05 2026: Reminding its deadline of August 6, 2026 for the State Government to make an announcement to the effect that census operations will be carried out in the State only after identifying illegal immigrants, the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD) has dared the Government to carry out census operations.

A consultative meeting on updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) before conducting census exercise was held today at Thoubal Keithel under the aegis of the Thoubal Keithel Phambi Mathak Makha Apunba, Meitei Community Joint Coordinating Committee 18 Clubs and JFD .

If Census comes before NRC...JFD rolls up sleeves to meet any eventuality

Speaking at the meeting, JFD finance secretary Sunil Karam said that the Government may go ahead with the census operations but the JFD will announce a slew of protest demonstrations to thwart the census operations if the Government does not meet the deadline.

If the Government chooses to overlook the people's will and clamour for updating the NRC first, and conduct the scheduled census exercise forcibly, people will resist the same exercise.

The Government should bear responsibility for all the consequences resulting thereof, he said.

Alleging that the incumbent Government does not respect the people's sentiment nor could it think for the people's welfare, Sunil Karam asserted that it's time to teach the Government a lesson.

He said that all the indigenous people ought to shoulder the responsibility of saving themselves collectively.

Sunil Karam also slammed the Government's deafening silence to the people's demand to identify illegal immigrants and protect indigenous people.

The NRC must be updated in order to identify illegal immigrants, he said.

JFD convenor Jeetendra Ningomba said that a slew of strong protest demonstrations will be announced if the State Government fails to take a decision to update the NRC before carrying out any census operations, and announce the same decision to the public by August 6 .

He appealed to all sections of people to support and join protest movements spearheaded by the JFD Task Force.

The violent conflict seen in the State is not between Kukis and Meiteis.

It is between those elements who are eager to fragment Manipur and the people who are determined to safeguard the State's integrity, Jeetendra said.

Not all Kukis are in favour of waging war.

It is the Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists who have been waging a sustained violent aggression against the indigenous people of Manipur after they infiltrated into the State stealthily from across the international border, he said.

Huge numbers of illegal immigrants came to the State, settled in different parts of the hill districts, cleared vast tracts of hill ranges and started extensive poppy plantations, he alleged.

Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists used the huge proceeds earned from poppy plantations to buy large arsenals of sophisticated weapons, he said.

Armed with these sophisticated weapons purchased with drug money, the Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists have been attacking innocent people and demanding a separate administration while the Government is watching helplessly, the JFD convenor asserted.

Questioning the State Government's unwillingness to update the NRC before going ahead with census operations scheduled to roll out from August 17, he said that strong protest demonstrations will be launched across the State if the Government chooses to carry out the census operations forcibly without respecting the people's sentiment and collective will.