The Women’s Wing of the Justice and Fair Delimitation (JFD), Manipur, has claimed to have secured the support of four more MLAs in its campaign opposing the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) based on the 1951 register and the conduct of the Census in the state until the NRC issue is resolved.
The signatures were collected on the final day of the campaign, during which the organisation submitted a five-point memorandum to legislators and sought their views on NRC and Census-related issues. The initiative forms part of the group’s ongoing “No NRC, No Census” movement.
According to the JFD Women’s Wing, declaration forms were also submitted to MLAs, seeking their endorsement of the demand that the Census exercise in Manipur be deferred until the NRC based on the 1951 register is updated and the concerns raised by the organisation are addressed.
The four MLAs who signed the declaration are Thangjam Arunkumar (Wangkhei), Kongkham Robindro Singh (Mayang Imphal), Thongam Shanti Singh (Moirang), and Soraisam Kebi Devi (Naoriya Pakhanglakpa).
The organisation stated that the campaign aims to document the positions of elected representatives on the NRC and the proposed Census exercise in Manipur. It reiterated its commitment to continuing the movement until its demands related to the 1951 register, NRC, and Census are addressed.
Meanwhile, the Manipur government has appealed to the JFD to suspend its September 30 deadline and allow the government more time to act on its demands. Government spokesperson and minister Dr Sapam Ranjan Singh said the administration fully understood the seriousness of the memorandum submitted by the JFD and was actively working on the issues raised.
He noted that holidays had delayed a detailed examination of the memorandum but assured that the government was sincerely trying to implement the demands. On the NRC issue, Dr Ranjan said the JFD has consistently advocated completing the NRC exercise before conducting the Census. He added that with the Census now postponed, the government would continue efforts to address public concerns.
Appealing for cooperation, Dr Ranjan urged the JFD to put its deadline on hold and work together with the government for the future and development of Manipur. He stressed that the administration would handle the matter with “utmost sincerity” and reiterated that all stakeholders shared a common goal of safeguarding the interests of the state and its people.
