Imphal: The United Naga Council (UNC) has reiterated its demand that the Census and delimitation of Assembly constituencies in Manipur be deferred until the National Register of Citizens (NRC) is implemented, using 1951 as the base year.
The UNC said its position was outlined in a joint memorandum submitted by the UNC and the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) to the Prime Minister through the Governor of Manipur on May 3, 2024.
In a statement, the UNC expressed concern over what it described as the continued influx of illegal immigrants from Myanmar, Bangladesh, Nepal and other regions. It claimed the influx had affected the demographic composition of the state and posed a threat to the identity, land, natural resources and socio-political rights of indigenous communities.
The council said no Census or delimitation exercise should be undertaken until the NRC process is completed and a verified database of bona fide citizens is established.
The UNC cited records from 1950-1969 and the 2011 Census to point to what it described as an abnormal increase in recognised and unrecognised villages in certain districts.
“The UNC views this abnormal growth and the existence of a large number of unrecognised villages as evidence of demographic invasion,” the statement said.
The council also alleged that attempts had been made by illegal settlers to claim exclusive territories in collusion with what it described as disruptive forces.
The UNC has sought immediate implementation of the NRC in Manipur, with 1951 as the base year, to identify and deport illegal immigrants.
It has also demanded that the Census be deferred until the NRC is completed and that delimitation of Assembly constituencies remain frozen until then.
The council said using population figures it considers distorted for delimitation could adversely affect indigenous communities.
The UNC has further called for a halt to what it described as the random recognition of villages. It demanded a fixed cut-off year to audit existing settlements and identify what it described as illegal or fictitious villages for possible de-recognition.
The council urged the governments of India and Manipur to consider and implement its demands, which it said were necessary in the public interest.