JFD issues words of caution
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 06 2026: The Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD) has warned that the scheduled census operations will be boycotted if the two-day consultative meeting cum seminar being organised by the State Government adopts any resolution which goes against the collective will off the indigenous people of Manipur.

Speaking to media persons at CCSK office, Wangkhei today, JFD convenor Jeetendra Ningomba said that their position for deferring the census operations until the National Register of Citizens (NRC) is updated remains steadfast and unchanged.

Though late, the State's Home Department is organising a two-day consultative meeting cum seminar on "Demographic Profile of Manipur" from August 7, he said.

"We have received a written invitation and we will take part in the meeting cum seminar but our position is clear and remains unaltered.

If the consultative meeting cum seminar adopts any resolution contradictory or inconsistent with our position, we will boycott the census operations", Jeetendra Ningomba said.

Notably, JFD held a meeting with other stakeholders on July 26, 2026 and asked the Government to come out with an official announcement by August 6 that the NRC will be updated before starting census operations.

The JFD submitted a petition to the Registrar General of India (RGI) on May 19, 2026 and the RGI's reply has been received but the State Government has been keeping a stoic silence on the issue.

This is a matter of grave concern, Jeetendra Ningomba said.

JFD secretary (organisation) Longjam Ratankumar said that their basic demand is identification of illegal immigrants by way of updating the NRC with 1951 as the base year before conducting census exercise.

If the census operations are carried out without first identifying illegal immigrants, it will amount to surrendering the future of all indigenous people to immigrants as any future delimitation will be based on this census data, he warned.

On the other hand, a restive situation still prevails in the State, the law and order situation remains extremely volatile and people's mobility remains highly restricted.

The Census Act lays down that census operations can be delayed if there is unrest in a State or region, he said.

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