Imphal: A public meeting on the ongoing crisis in Manipur and the need to update the National Register of Citizens (NRC) before the upcoming Census was held at Pallel Market in Kakching district on Thursday.
The meeting was jointly organised by the Native Peoples’ Committee, Manipur (NPCM), the United Committee for Protection (UCP), Meira Paibi, and NPLKTLP. Organisers said over 400 people from the Meitei and Naga indigenous communities attended the gathering.
The attendees resolved to strengthen unity and cooperation among Manipur’s indigenous groups and continue working collectively to safeguard their land, identity, constitutional rights, and future generations.
Reiterating its August 6, 2026 deadline for the state government to announce that Census operations will begin only after identifying illegal immigrants, the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD) challenged the administration over its rollout plans.
A separate consultative meeting on updating the NRC before the Census exercise was held on August 5 at Thoubal Keithel. The event was organised under the aegis of the Thoubal Keithel Phambi Mathak Makha Apunba, the Meitei Community Joint Coordinating Committee (representing 18 clubs), and the JFD.
Speaking at the session, JFD Finance Secretary Sunil Karam said that while the government may attempt to proceed with Census operations, the JFD would launch a series of protests to oppose the exercise if the deadline is ignored.
“If the government overlooks public sentiment demanding an initial NRC update and forcibly conducts the scheduled Census, the public will resist,” Karam cautioned, adding that the administration must bear full responsibility for any consequences.
He alleged that the incumbent government remains indifferent to public welfare and accused the authorities of maintaining silence over the identification of illegal immigrants.
JFD Convenor Jeetendra Ningomba echoed these concerns, stating that statewide protests would be announced if the government fails to mandate an NRC update before Census operations.
He appealed to all sections of society to support the JFD Task Force. Addressing the broader ethnic unrest, Jeetendra asserted that the conflict is not an inter-community war between Kukis and Meiteis but a fight against elements seeking to fragment the state’s integrity.
He alleged that illegal infiltration from across the international border has fuelled illicit poppy cultivation and financed sophisticated arsenals used to attack civilians, while authorities remain passive.
Questioning the state government’s decision to proceed with the Census on August 17 without addressing public demands, JFD leaders warned of statewide resistance if community concerns continue to be ignored.