‘NRC first, then census’ memo sent to Centre

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Mar 24: In line with the popular demand for first updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) with respect to Manipur before carrying out census operations, legislators of the State have sent a common memorandum to key Central leaders.
This was stated by MLA Tongbram Robindro who attended the opening ceremony of a three-day Festival of Dance and Music at the chief guest at Government Dance College, Palace Compound here today.
The festival is being organised by the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC), Kolkata under the Ministry of Culture in association with the Department of Art and Culture, Government of Manipur.
Responding to queries raised by media persons during the event, Tongbram  Robindro said that MLAs of the ruling parties held a meeting on delimitation this morning.
The ongoing mass movement demanding deferment of census was also deliberated at length during the meeting.
The meeting unanimously agreed on updating the NRC after completion of the Special Intensive Review (SIR) and carrying out census operations after the NRC is fully updated, the MLA said.
He said that the Government is deeply concerned with the escalating tension and exchange of firing between two communities reported from different places of Ukhrul district such as Litan and Sanakeithel.
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand has been working hard to bring an end to the violent confrontation through dialogue between the two communities, and also to resettle all the displaced persons, Tongbram Robindro said.
Saying that violence will not bring anything positive, the MLA called upon all the communities to work collectively toward restoring communal harmony and peace.
He also appealed to all the people not to do anything which can prolong and escalate the confrontation under the influence of anti-social elements.
The Chief Minister has been working to rebuild the mutual trust among different communities which was destroyed by a series of unwanted incidents that took place during the past three years, Tongbram Robindro said.
Many Kuki CSOs which refused to talk with the Government for a long time have now agreed to hold talks and negotiations, he said.
The MLA remarked that the recent meeting between the Chief Minister and the Kuki-Zo Council was the first step toward restoring peace in the State.    
Arts and Culture Commissioner H Gyanprakash and EZCC Kolkata Board of Governors member Budha Chingtham were also present at the opening function of the festival.
The opening day of the festival featured Leichal, a folk music composition by Rhythms of Manipur, Koireng traditional dance by a Longa Koireng cultural troupe and Thang-Ta performance by Kanglei Indigenous Martial Arts and Cultural Society.
Wahengbam Shiyalaxmi presented a Manipuri Dance performance while Dr Pukhrambam Tejpati Devi performed Bharatnatyam.