IMPHAL: Six student organizations in Manipur staged a rally in Imphal, demanding the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state of Manipur, India.
The students, representing Manipuri Students’ Federation (MSF), Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur (DESAM), Kangleipak Students’ Association (KSA), Students’ Union of Kangleipak (SUK), Apunba Ireipakki Maheiroi Singpanglup (AIMS), and another student body, gathered at Imphal College in Tiddim Road and marched towards the Raj Bhavan.
During the rally, the students displayed placards with slogans such as ‘Detect and deport illegal immigrants from Myanmar, Nepal, and Bangladesh’ and ‘We demand the Centre to implement the NRC in Manipur.’ However, their march was halted by a police team at the Raj Bhavan gate, where they raised slogans against authorities and demanded the implementation of the NRC.
Manipur Students Express Concern Over Illegal Immigrants
Speaking to the media, DESAM secretary general Mayengbam Somorjit Meitei expressed concern about the increasing number of illegal immigrants settling in Manipur, leading to conflicts. He emphasized the urgent need for the NRC implementation as a long-term policy to address this issue effectively.
Meitei criticized the Indian government’s response to illegal immigrants, highlighting incidents where no SoO (Suspension of Operations) cadres were found at their camps during security forces’ search operations.
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He urged the state government to pressure the Central government for swift NRC implementation. Meitei also emphasized the demand to consider 1951 as the base year for the NRC, contrary to the government’s proposition of using 1961 as the dividing line for permanent settlers and non-settlers.
Earlier, the Manipur government had established a Population Commission and requested the Centre to conduct an NRC exercise to identify and deport illegal immigrants.
