Moirang rally calls for NRC first, census later

Our Correspondent
Moirang, Mar 25 : A public rally was held in Moirang today, demanding the postponement of the census operations until illegal immigrants are identified and the internally displaced people (IDPs) are resettled to their native places.
Organised by the Apunba Nupi Lup (ANUL) Moirang Branch, the rally saw the participation of hundreds of people, including internally displaced individuals.
During the rally, which commenced from Moirang Kangla and culminated at Moirang Chengei Ground, the protesters carried placards with slogans such as "No NRC, No Census", "No IDP Settlement, No Census", and "No Census Amid Crisis, Justice First", among others.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines, Th Sujata, president of Imagi Meira, stated that the Constitution permits the postponement of a census in a State that is facing a crisis.
Stating that Manipur has been grappling with the issue of illegal immigrants, she added that the Government preparing to begin the census exercise from April 1 this year despite the situation in the State is unacceptable.
Sujata also claimed that the 2011 census report reveals an abnormal population growth in certain districts.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah had identified illegal immigration as a key factor behind the crisis in Manipur during his address in Parliament, she said, adding that both the Governor and the former Chief Minister had also raised concerns about the issue.
However, the Government has not taken any concrete action to identify these illegal immigrants, she claimed and questioned how the Govt plans to produce accurate population data through census without addressing the issue of illegal immigration first.
People of Manipur are not against the census, but how will the Government carry out the exercise efficiently in a State that is gripped by a crisis, she further asked.
She also stated that Meiteis still are unable to move freely within Manipur while many IDPs are still in relief camps and the issues reflect the sensitivity of the situation in the State.
Census should not be conducted until the IDPs are resettled in their native places, Sujata said and urged the Government to defer the exercise in Manipur for some time, as done in some Indian States in the past.
She suggested that the Government could implement an alternative mechanism to identify illegal immigrants if updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) will take time.
ANUL Bishnupur president Lourembam Pramo, voiced similar concerns, stating that the census should only take place once illegal immigrants are identified and the IDPs are resettled.