Fourteen organisations in Manipur's Meitei-dominated valley staged a protest on Monday, demanding that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and Census not be implemented in the state, while calling for the deportation of illegal immigrants. The protest, held in Imphal, saw a large turnout as participants raised slogans against what they termed the 'foreigners' influx' into the region.
Growing Opposition to NRC and Census
The demonstrators, under the banner of the 'Joint Committee on No NRC and No Census', argued that both exercises would lead to the disenfranchisement of indigenous communities. They claimed that the NRC would exclude genuine citizens, while the Census would be used to manipulate demographic data in favour of outsiders. The groups also expressed fears that the implementation of these measures would further dilute the cultural and political identity of the Meitei community.
Demands for Deportation
A key demand of the protest was the identification and deportation of illegal immigrants, whom they accuse of causing demographic changes and straining local resources. The organisations called on the central and state governments to take immediate action to verify the citizenship status of all residents in the valley. They warned of intensified agitation if their demands were not met.
The protest comes amid heightened tensions in Manipur over issues of citizenship and demographic changes. The Meitei-dominated valley has seen a rise in such movements, reflecting deeper anxieties about the impact of migration on the region's social fabric. The state government has yet to comment on the demands.
