Chandel/Senapati, August 19: The Chandel Naga People’s Organisation (CNPO) and the Naga People’s Organisation (NPO), Senapati, have separately reiterated their demand for the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur before the conduct of the Census, with 1951 proposed as the base year.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the CNPO said the NRC must precede both the Census and delimitation exercise in the state. The organisation maintained that citizenship should first be verified, followed by population enumeration and, thereafter, determination of political representation.
The CNPO expressed concern over what it described as unchecked cross-border influx and unverified settlements, saying such developments could have implications for land, resources, political representation and the rights of indigenous communities.
The organisation urged the Government of India and the Government of Manipur to implement an NRC using 1951 as the base year to verify bona-fide citizens and identify undocumented entrants. It also called for the Census to be deferred until the NRC is completed and for delimitation to be undertaken only after the citizenship verification exercise.
The CNPO further demanded a review of unauthorised settlements that were allegedly granted village status without fulfilling prescribed legal requirements.
Meanwhile, the Naga People’s Organisation (NPO), Senapati, in a separate press release, expressed support for the stance and demand of the United Naga Council (UNC) for implementing the NRC before the Census, also with 1951 as the base year.
The NPO stated that it was concerned about what it termed unchecked and undocumented migration from neighbouring countries and its potential impact on the demographic composition, identity, land and security of indigenous communities in Manipur.
The organisation also raised concerns over the expansion of human settlements in protected and reserved forest areas, including the growth of villages over the past two to three decades.
Reiterating its position that “Census should not be undertaken before the NRC,” the NPO urged both the Centre and the Manipur Government to consider the concerns raised by indigenous communities and undertake what it described as a credible NRC exercise to determine citizenship status and distinguish between legitimate citizens and illegal migrants.
The NPO said an early implementation of a credible NRC, followed by the Census, would help safeguard the rights and interests of indigenous communities, establish demographic records and strengthen documentation of citizenship.
The two organisations’ statements come amid continuing demands in Manipur for citizenship verification and measures concerning demographic changes, with the sequencing of the NRC, Census and delimitation emerging as a significant issue.
The CNPO summed up its position with the call: “No NRC, No Census” and “No Verified Citizenship, No Delimitation.”
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