Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh and Rajya Sabha MP Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi on Monday thanked Union Home Minister Amit Shah for acknowledging the state’s request to make 1951 the base year for the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and welcoming his assurance that the matter would be reviewed in the public interest.
Addressing BJP workers at the party’s state headquarters in Imphal on September 14, Khemchand said the NRC was a core component of the BJP’s election manifesto and recalled the state Assembly resolution passed in August 2022 during former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s tenure seeking its implementation.
Khemchand said the BJP remained committed to resolving the ethnic conflict through dialogue, inter-community reconciliation and restoration of free movement across the state. He described the violence which began on May 3, 2023, as highly unfortunate and said the party was pursuing peace initiatives despite criticism from opposition groups.
Responding to opposition criticism, Khemchand said other political factions had limited themselves to condemnation, while the BJP was working towards a resolution. He cited the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) by the BJP-led Central government as an indication of its commitment to protecting indigenous communities.
On the ongoing crisis, Khemchand acknowledged that people would naturally hold the incumbent government accountable but said the administration’s objective was to safeguard all 36 communities in the state.
Sharda, who is also BJP state unit president, urged people to trust Shah’s assurance and called for it to be translated into a concrete process. Speaking at a press briefing at Thambal Sanglen, she said the demand for an NRC had been longstanding, pointing to Assembly resolutions passed in 2022 and 2024.
Sharda said the demand to complete the NRC before conducting the Census was intended to ensure that the demographic exercise was based on verified and credible records. She also referred to the Central government’s decision to defer the Census in Manipur.
On the state’s economy, Sharda highlighted tourism as an area with significant potential and said improved infrastructure and connectivity are necessary to attract visitors and strengthen the local economy. She added that hosting major national and international events could help showcase Manipur’s cultural heritage and natural attractions and create sustainable opportunities for local communities.