Imphal: Hundreds of protesters, predominantly women, marched through the Porompat area of Imphal East on Tuesday to demand the deferment of Manipur’s upcoming census. Surrounded by a large police presence, the demonstrators converged on the Census office to reiterate that no headcount should occur until the state addresses concerns over illegal immigration.
The march was organized by the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (CJFD). The group is calling for the implementation of a National Register of Citizens (NRC) or a similar mechanism to identify and repatriate illegal immigrants before any official census data is gathered.
Protesters carried placards with slogans such as “No NRC–No Census,” “No free movement–No Census,” and “No IDP settlement–No Census,” reflecting widespread anxiety over demographic changes and the displacement of local residents.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the march, CJFD leader Sunil Karam noted that while the census is scheduled to begin on April 1, 2026, the organization remains opposed to the exercise in its current form.
“The people of Manipur have no objection to a census if it is conducted in a just and fair manner,” Karam said. He argued that no operation should be undertaken until all individuals who entered Manipur after 1951 are identified and a verification system is established.
Karam also urged the Chief Minister, state Ministers, and all political parties to adopt a united stand in asking the Central Government to delay the exercise until the issue of illegal immigration is resolved.
Additionally, the CJFD leader expressed dissatisfaction with recent statements from Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh and Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam in the state Assembly. While both leaders recently cited the sensitive nature of the census given the state’s current law and order situation and the displacement of citizens, Karam suggested their remarks did not go far enough to address the public’s demands.
The protest highlights a growing friction between the government’s scheduled census timeline and sections of the public who fear the results could have long-term implications for the state’s security and demographic balance.