Imphal: Women’s organisations, student bodies, civil-society groups and displaced families intensified protests across Manipur on Saturday, demanding that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) be updated before the national population census. The campaign, running under the slogan “No NRC, No Census”, raises concerns about citizenship verification, alleged undocumented migration, and the accurate representation of communities affected by the 2023 ethnic conflict.
Protesters seek NRC update to protect electoral mapping
The agitation is being led principally by the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD), along with a coalition of student organisations and local civil-society groups. Demonstrators argued that census figures, if compiled without a prior verification of citizenship, could influence future territorial delimitation and the distribution of public resources.
Protesters maintained that enumeration conducted while many families remain displaced could yield an inaccurate geographic record of affected communities. The slogan “No IDP Settlement, No Census” has been used in several rallies to underline demands that internally displaced persons (IDPs) be allowed to return or be properly accounted for prior to a census exercise.
"No NRC, No Census"
Among those associated with the campaign is Bemlei Maibam, Secretary Organisation of the World Meetei Organisation, listed in public reports as part of the movement. The protests have included torch rallies, public meetings and sit-in demonstrations across the state capital and other parts of Manipur.
Claims and calls for independent verification
Participants cite alleged undocumented migration and demographic change as motivations for seeking an NRC update before enumeration. However, reports accompanying the protests note that the scale of migration and several specific claims require independent verification and should not be treated as established fact.
Organisers demand consultation with affected groups, including displaced families, before any census begins. They argue that accurate population figures are essential not only for planning and resource allocation but also for electoral delimitation that determines political representation.
Displacement from the 2023 conflict remains central
Protesters have repeatedly pointed to the consequences of the ethnic violence that began in 2023, which produced significant internal displacement. Advocates say that enumeration while IDPs are absent from their original habitations will undercount communities and distort the demographic picture used for policy and political decisions.
Campaigners are urging authorities to take measures to ensure IDPs are registered at their home locations or that mobility-related protocols are adopted for the census. They have also called for official consultations to frame practical procedures addressing both enumeration and citizenship verification.
What protest organisers want
- Update the National Register of Citizens before conducting the census.
- Ensure displaced persons are properly counted at their original addresses or via agreed protocols.
- Consultations with affected communities and civil-society groups prior to enumeration and delimitation exercises.
So far, public reports on the agitation do not cite a formal response from the state government or the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. Organisers say the movement will continue with public meetings and sit-ins until their demands are addressed.
| Issue | Protester demand |
|---|---|
| Timing of NRC | Update NRC before census |
| Displaced persons | Ensure IDPs are counted at original locations or through special protocols |
| Delimitation concerns | Prevent census data from being used without prior citizenship verification |
The agitation forms part of a broader, state-level debate linking population counts, citizenship registers and political representation. Observers note the potential for such demands to complicate census operations if consensus is not reached between protest groups and authorities.
For now, the movement remains a prominent local pressure point, combining the concerns of displaced families with wider anxieties over migration and future electoral mapping. Protesters say they will press their demands through continued demonstrations, public meetings and coordination among student bodies, women’s organisations and indigenous groups.
