‘Weed out illegal immigrants first’

IMPHAL, Dec 17 : The Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation Committee (CJFDC) has stated that conducting the proposed census operation without identifying illegal immigrants first would be unjust and undermine the integrity of the entire process.
Addressing the media at CSSK office at Wangkhei Thangjam Leikai today, CJFDC convenor Jitendra Ningomba continued that it is unlikely the Government will produce accurate data if it proceeds with the census exercise before resolving the crisis in Manipur.
Stating that the Registrar General of India has instructed States to make all necessary arrangements for the population count by January 15, 2026, he added that the Government, however, must establish a mechanism to identify illegal immigrants before proceeding with the census operation.
Thousands of people in Manipur are still living in relief camps and there are concerns about inaccuracies in the 2001 and 2011 census reports, Jitendra added.
He asked how the Government will conduct the census exercise and produce a comprehensive report in Manipur, given the ongoing situation.
Incorporating illegal immigrants in the census will cause a significant demographic imbalance in the State, he cautioned.
Jitendra stated that they have submitted a memorandum to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Governor, outlining the issues the State will face if delimitation is carried out based on erroneous census reports.