Imphal, September 13 (Daily Kiran) : The Manipur government has called on civil society organizations (CSOs) to withdraw their protests demanding updates to the National Register of Citizens (NRC). These protests have included the closure of both central and state government offices.
Government spokesperson Thokchom Radheshyam Singh and fellow ruling Bharatiya Janata Party legislator Sapam Ranjan Singh expressed concern that the ongoing demonstrations, particularly by the Campaign for Justice and Fair Delimitation (CJFD), are causing significant inconvenience to the public. They appealed to all involved to consider the difficulties faced by citizens.
During a press conference, Radheshyam Singh acknowledged the CJFD’s demands, noting that the people of Manipur want the NRC updated before the 2027 census. He reiterated that the state assembly had recently reaffirmed its proposal to update the NRC, a matter that Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has already communicated to the central government.
On the last day of the recent assembly session, discussions took place regarding the use of 1951 as the base year for the NRC, and this issue has been escalated to the Ministry of Home Affairs. Following a campaign by Manipur assembly members in New Delhi, the Chief Minister has informed central leaders about the public’s wishes.
Radheshyam Singh pointed out that the Ministry of Home Affairs has postponed the census process in light of these developments. Amid this backdrop, the CJFD has intensified its movement by calling for the closure of government offices.
He warned that such protests could lead to unwanted incidents and disrupt the functioning of the state government. Radheshyam Singh urged the CJFD to refrain from escalating their protests and to avoid prolonged demonstrations, as they could exacerbate public hardships.
He also appealed to all segments of society to “give peace a chance in Manipur” and support the current government’s efforts to restore normalcy. During the press conference, it was clarified that the state’s Home Minister, Konthoujam Govindas Singh, along with several other legislators, has been in New Delhi recently to pressure the central government regarding the NRC update.
The spokesperson expressed hope that the central government would act in accordance with the desires of the people of Manipur.
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