A significant conclave of political parties in Manipur has reached a unanimous decision, urging the central government to postpone the upcoming Census 2027 in the state. The meeting, held in Imphal, cited the severe ongoing crisis and abnormal conditions as major obstacles to conducting a fair and accurate population count.
Unanimous Resolution Amidst State Crisis
The conclave was organized by the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation and took place in Imphal on Saturday. Representatives from twelve political parties, including major national players like the BJP and the Congress, were present. The collective resolution highlighted that the current situation in Manipur is simply not conducive for a credible census operation.
The parties pointed to the breakdown of law and order, administrative dysfunction in several districts, and prolonged disruption of normal civil life. They argued that these factors severely restrict accessibility for enumerators and would make a fair and accurate headcount unfeasible.
Key Concerns: Displacement and Demographic Distortion
A primary concern raised was the massive internal displacement caused by the ethnic violence. The conclave noted that thousands of residents continue to live in relief camps or outside their habitual homes. Under such circumstances, conducting a standard household-based enumeration becomes impracticable, risking significant undercounting or overcounting in various regions of the state.
Furthermore, the resolution flagged the serious risk of demographic distortion. It highlighted the presence of illegal migrants, temporary security personnel, and other non-permanent populations. The misclassification or inclusion of these groups could artificially inflate population figures in certain areas, thereby distorting the overall demographic profile of Manipur, with far-reaching consequences.
Long-Term Consequences for Delimitation
The political leaders emphasized that a census conducted under the current unstable conditions would lack data integrity and public confidence. They cautioned that flawed census data would directly and irreversibly impact the subsequent delimitation exercise.
The potential fallout, as discussed, includes:
- Inequitable political representation.
- Distortion of constituency boundaries.
- Erosion of the fundamental principle of 'one person, one vote'.
- Long-term structural imbalances among Manipur's diverse communities.
Formal Appeal to the Centre
Based on these arguments, the conclave formally urged the Union government to invoke its powers under Section 3 of the Census Act, 1948. They requested the Centre to defer the census in Manipur until specific conditions are met:
- Peace and public order are fully restored.
- Internally displaced persons can safely return to their original homes.
- Normal administrative functioning is resumed across all districts.
- Free and secure access to all areas is guaranteed for enumerators.
Only when these conditions are in place, the parties argued, can an accurate, transparent, and inclusive enumeration be possible. Additionally, the resolution called for the detection of illegal migrants prior to the census through the National Register of Citizens (NRC) or any other mechanism deemed appropriate by the central government.
