AITUC urges PM to defer delimitation
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 12 2025: The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Manipur State Committee has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to defer any delimitation exercise in Manipur until a credible, updated and transparent census, preferably the 2021 census which is scheduled in 2026 is completed and published.

A memorandum submitted by AITUC Manipur State Committee has also urged the Prime Minister to initiate immediate steps to set up and deploy a highway protection force in Manipur to ensure security and continuity of supply on key highways.

Over the past several decades, Manipur has witnessed a substantial influx of undocumented migrants, particularly from the neighbouring country of Myanmar and this trend is most visible in the hill districts bordering Myanmar namely; Chandel, Chura-chandpur and Tengnoupal, the memorandum pointed out.

It also pointed out that the 2001 census recorded abnormal and statistically improbable population growth in nine subdivisions, exceeding 120 per cent in some cases.

Ground-level reports have consistently highlighted manipulation and coercion of census and election officials, resulting in inflated or skewed demographic data that undermine the democratic process, it said.

The proposed delimitation process, based on such erroneous data, poses a serious threat to democratic equity which will not only deepen the hill-valley divide but also inflame identity-based conflicts, risking recurrence of violence like the tragic ethnic clashes of May 2023, it said.

Manipur's geographic constraints make it highly dependent on three National Highways viz; NH-2, NH-37 and NH-102, for the supply of essential commodities including food, fuel and medicine, said the memorandum.

It then pointed out that these critical lifelines remain under constant threat from armed militant groups and criminal elements who extort transporters, enforce bandhs/blockades and perpetrate violence with impunity.

While attacks on truckers, arsons, and routine extortion continue unchecked, even from groups under SoO agreements, ad-hoc deployment of Assam Rifles or CRPF has failed to act as effective deterrents, it said.

AITUC Manipur State Committee then urged the Prime Minister to set up a Highway Protection Force (HPF) on the lines of the Railway Protection Force so as to ensure safe and uninterrupted movement of goods and services on NH-2, NH-37 and NH-102 .

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