NRC must before delimitation : WMC

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Mar 21 : Claiming that it is the non-indigenous people who have been opposing the demand to add Meeteis in the Scheduled Tribe  (ST) list of the Constitution, the World Meetei Council (WMC) has urged the Government to implement National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur and identify the illegal immigrants before carrying out a delimitation exercise.
In a statement signed by its secretary general (CEC), WMC also appealed to the people of Manipur to remain vigilant and not be swayed by the false propaganda of migrant population 'who have been playing divide and win policy in the name of tribal.'
Further claiming that the migrant people settling in Manipur are the driving force against the demand to include Meeteis in the ST list, the Council went on to maintain that the demand being raised by many organisations to implement NRC is to check illegal immigrants from among the genuine ones.
"The migration of Kuki Chin started in the 18th century from the neighbouring areas of the present day Myanmar. Till today illegal migration is reported every now and then. This is serious," the WMC opined.
The Council claimed that a sizeable portion of a migrant community settling in Manipur are illegal.
Stating that the present movement of the students and civil society organisations is fully dedicated to the interest of all Manipuris irrespective of caste, creed, language or religion, the WMC appealed to all  to support the movement.
The WMC continued  that the implementation of NRC must precede delimitation. "Without identifying the illegal immigrants  from among the genuine ones, delimitation could be a farce since delimitation is based on population," WMC added.
"However, in Manipur  everything is possible as even migrants get enlisted in the ST list," the WMC ridiculed and appealed to the people to be alert so as to make sure that only the right citizens are given their franchise.