Shiv Sena joins NRC before census chorus
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By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Apr 5: Exercise to update the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and return of internally displaced persons to their respective original villages and homes must be prerequisite conditions for conducting census in Manipur, Shiv Sena Manipur has said.
Speaking to reporters at the party's office at Babupara today, its president Moirangthem Tombi said conducting the proposed census without updating NRC would hurt the interest of the State and its indigenous people.
Reacting to a notification issued earlier to start house listing exercise in September this year as part of census 2027, M Tombi said the exercise would be an impossible task when hundreds of houses have been destroyed and razed to ground in the Manipur conflict since May 3, 2023.
"Hundreds of houses have been destroyed. How will one conduct house-listing exercises when there is no home to list ? The IDPs must first be allowed to return to their homes and villages," he said.
Tombi said many of the key issues facing Manipur are consequences of illegal immigrants infiltrating from neighbouring countries.
The illegal immigrants settling in Manipur must be identified first before conducting any census related exercise, he said.
Conducting the census without updating the NRC, which will help identify illegal immigrants, would hurt the interest of the State as well its indigenous peoples, Tombi said.
Commenting on Yumnam Khemchand's visit to Jiribam, M Tombi said the CM's journey to the district by road is a first in decades and a "turning point" that could bring together communities and foster peaceful coexistence.
Chief Yumnam Khemchand is the first CM to travel to Jiribam after the May 3, 2023 conflict. The CM has met with representatives of Hmar, Kuki, Paite and Meiteis in Jiribam, and such initiatives are positive that could bring about reconciliation, Tombi said.
"On his return to Manipur, the CM should traverse through Kangpokpi, and visit Moreh and Churachandpur next. Reaching such places would help bring together the communities," Tombi said.
While peace-building efforts are on, Tombi also asserted that the State Government should act decisively to open the highways to all communities.
The State Government must create the conditions for people of all communities to travel on the highways without fear, he said.
The State must also not remain silent and watch one issue unfolding after another, Tombi said, apparently referring to violent incidents which occurred recently in Ukhrul and Kamjong districts.
There are reports of armed SoO cadres of Kuki militant groups operating in many hill areas in violation of ground rules of the (SoO) agreement. The State Government must crackdown on these armed militants to curb violent incidents, he added.
Anticipating proactive actions from the Government, Tombi reiterated that the return of the IDPs and NRC must precede census exercise.
Internally displaced persons must not remain refugees in their own State. The State Government must take actions for the IDPs to return to their original villages and homes, Tombi said. Tombi further informed that he is visiting New Delhi tomorrow to meet party leadership and discuss issues facing Manipur. Shiv Sena may field more than 35 candidates in the next elections, he said.
IMPHAL, Apr 5: Exercise to update the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and return of internally displaced persons to their respective original villages and homes must be prerequisite conditions for conducting census in Manipur, Shiv Sena Manipur has said.
Speaking to reporters at the party's office at Babupara today, its president Moirangthem Tombi said conducting the proposed census without updating NRC would hurt the interest of the State and its indigenous people.
Reacting to a notification issued earlier to start house listing exercise in September this year as part of census 2027, M Tombi said the exercise would be an impossible task when hundreds of houses have been destroyed and razed to ground in the Manipur conflict since May 3, 2023.
"Hundreds of houses have been destroyed. How will one conduct house-listing exercises when there is no home to list ? The IDPs must first be allowed to return to their homes and villages," he said.
Tombi said many of the key issues facing Manipur are consequences of illegal immigrants infiltrating from neighbouring countries.
The illegal immigrants settling in Manipur must be identified first before conducting any census related exercise, he said.
Conducting the census without updating the NRC, which will help identify illegal immigrants, would hurt the interest of the State as well its indigenous peoples, Tombi said.
Commenting on Yumnam Khemchand's visit to Jiribam, M Tombi said the CM's journey to the district by road is a first in decades and a "turning point" that could bring together communities and foster peaceful coexistence.
Chief Yumnam Khemchand is the first CM to travel to Jiribam after the May 3, 2023 conflict. The CM has met with representatives of Hmar, Kuki, Paite and Meiteis in Jiribam, and such initiatives are positive that could bring about reconciliation, Tombi said.
"On his return to Manipur, the CM should traverse through Kangpokpi, and visit Moreh and Churachandpur next. Reaching such places would help bring together the communities," Tombi said.
While peace-building efforts are on, Tombi also asserted that the State Government should act decisively to open the highways to all communities.
The State Government must create the conditions for people of all communities to travel on the highways without fear, he said.
The State must also not remain silent and watch one issue unfolding after another, Tombi said, apparently referring to violent incidents which occurred recently in Ukhrul and Kamjong districts.
There are reports of armed SoO cadres of Kuki militant groups operating in many hill areas in violation of ground rules of the (SoO) agreement. The State Government must crackdown on these armed militants to curb violent incidents, he added.
Anticipating proactive actions from the Government, Tombi reiterated that the return of the IDPs and NRC must precede census exercise.
Internally displaced persons must not remain refugees in their own State. The State Government must take actions for the IDPs to return to their original villages and homes, Tombi said. Tombi further informed that he is visiting New Delhi tomorrow to meet party leadership and discuss issues facing Manipur. Shiv Sena may field more than 35 candidates in the next elections, he said.