In Brief
- Manipur protests halt Census training, with demands for NRC before Census.
- The debate concerns illegal immigration, displacement, and future political representation.
- Kuki-Zo Council opposes postponement, calls for impartial Census.
- Manipur High Court seeks State and Centre responses on the issue.
Manipur is witnessing protests against the scheduled first phase of the Census, set to begin on September 1. Training of enumerators has been suspended amid these demonstrations, as various civil society groups insist that a National Register of Citizens (NRC) be conducted prior to the Census. These demands are rooted in concerns over illegal immigration, demographic shifts, displacement of local communities, and the implications for future delimitation and political representation in the state.
Contrasting with the opposing groups, the Kuki-Zo Council has voiced disagreement with calls to postpone the Census, emphasizing the need for an impartial enumeration process. The controversy has escalated to the judiciary, with the Manipur High Court currently seeking formal responses from both the State government and the Central government regarding the issue.
The situation remains dynamic as stakeholders debate whether the Centre will delay Census 2027 in Manipur, with questions looming over the balance between demographic documentation and community concerns.
