Imphal, August 2: The 14 CSOs Kangleipak has announced a total shutdown across Manipur from midnight on August 9, accusing the State Government of failing to act on the long-standing demand for updating the National Register of Citizens before conducting the census.
Addressing media persons at the IPSA office in Keishampat on Sunday, 14 CSOs Kangleipak convenor Nahakpam Shanta said the Manipur Legislative Assembly had adopted a resolution on August 5, 2022, calling for the establishment of a State Population Commission and the updating of the NRC.
He said the Assembly reaffirmed the resolution during another session held on March 1, 2024.
Shanta recalled that the State Government had earlier assured civil society organisations that it would organise a seminar or workshop on the NRC issue during the first week of August. He urged the Government to hold the proposed programme by August 8.
According to him, the seminar was expected to bring together legal experts, representatives of different communities, civil society organisations and specialists involved in the NRC exercise in Assam. Experts from the Supreme Court and the Gauhati High Court were also expected to be invited.
However, the Government has not issued any official notification regarding the proposed seminar, despite its earlier assurance, he alleged.
“The Government’s indifference to such a sensitive issue has compelled the 14 CSOs Kangleipak to call a total shutdown,” Shanta said.
The organisation will hold another press conference on the evening of August 8 to announce the duration and other details of the shutdown.
Shanta said the shutdown decision would be reviewed if the State Government organised the seminar on updating the NRC by August 8.
He also claimed that the executive appeared to be disregarding the resolutions adopted by the Manipur Legislative Assembly and subsequently forwarded to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
Civil society organisations have repeatedly demanded that the NRC be updated before the census operation begins in Manipur. They have also organised public rallies and adopted resolutions in support of the demand.
A delegation of civil society representatives had earlier visited New Delhi and held discussions with officials of the Registrar General of India and the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding the possibility of updating the NRC in Manipur.
The organisations have expressed concern that conducting the census before an NRC update could result in undocumented immigrants being included in the population count. This remains an allegation made by the civil society groups, and no official assessment confirming the claim has been released.