Former Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has raised the demand for conducting the National Register of Citizens (NRC) before the census in Manipur during a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Singh said he also discussed economic blockades, counter-blockades, shortages of essential commodities and rising prices in the state.
According to Singh, people were not opposed to the census but wanted an NRC exercise to be undertaken first. He said Shah assured him that the issues related to blockades and supply disruptions would be addressed.
The demand comes amid continuing political and public debate over illegal immigration, demographic changes and documentation of residents in Manipur.
MANIPUR NRC DEMAND: KEY POINTS
| Issue | Details |
|---|---|
| Former CM raising demand | N Biren Singh |
| Union minister met | Amit Shah |
| Main demand | NRC before census |
| Other concern | Economic blockades |
| Impact cited | Supply disruption and higher prices |
| NRC proposal by state | February 2023 |
| Protest location | Imphal |
| Protest demand | NRC before census |
| Wider concern | Immigration and demographic change |
Why Is Manipur Demanding NRC Before Census?
The demand for an NRC in Manipur predates the current census-related protests.
Biren Singh said his government had taken up the issue in February 2023, before the ethnic violence that later erupted in the state.
According to Singh, the then state government had approached the Centre seeking an NRC exercise. He said the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Registrar General had informed the state that the request was under consideration.
Singh has now urged the Centre to consider the NRC demand before conducting census-related exercises in Manipur.
Importantly, the demand reflects the position put forward by Singh and sections of protesters; it does not by itself establish the presence or scale of undocumented migrants in the state.
What Did Biren Singh Tell Amit Shah?
According to Singh, his meeting with Amit Shah focused on two major issues.
The first was the impact of economic blockades and counter-blockades, which he said had disrupted supplies and increased the prices of essential commodities.
The second was the demand for an NRC before the census.
Singh said he told the Home Minister that people were not against conducting the census but wanted the NRC process to precede it.
He said Shah listened to the concerns and assured him that the issues surrounding blockades and supply disruptions would be addressed.
Manipur Blockades Affect Supplies and Prices
Economic blockades and counter-blockades have emerged as another major concern in Manipur.
According to Biren Singh, disruptions have affected the movement of essential commodities and contributed to price increases.
The former chief minister said he raised the issue with Amit Shah during his Delhi visit and was assured that the Centre would address the matter.
The supply situation remains particularly sensitive because disruptions to transport routes can affect the availability and prices of fuel, food and other essential goods in the landlocked northeastern state.
Protests Over NRC Before Census in Imphal
The NRC demand has also triggered demonstrations in Manipur.
Students staged a protest outside the Directorate of Census Operations in Imphal, demanding that an NRC exercise be conducted before the census.
Police used tear gas to disperse protesters during the demonstration.
Later, on August 16, hundreds of protesters reportedly participated in a torch rally in Imphal East and Imphal West, again raising the demand for an NRC before the census.
The protests show that the issue has moved beyond political discussions and become a subject of public mobilisation.
Why Demographic Change Is a Concern in Manipur
Biren Singh said sections of the population are concerned that the presence of what he described as illegal immigrants has contributed to demographic changes in the state.
These claims are part of the political debate surrounding the NRC demand and require verification through official identification and documentation processes.
The NRC proposal is being presented by its supporters as a mechanism to establish a more comprehensive record of residents and address concerns surrounding undocumented migration.
Manipur's 926 Unrecognised Villages
Another issue raised by Biren Singh during his remarks was the status of 926 unrecognised villages.
Singh said government records show the existence of these villages and that there has been a request for their formal recognition.
The issue of village recognition intersects with broader debates over land, population records, administration and demographic changes in Manipur.
Singh said he believed there could be a positive response from the Centre to the concerns raised.
Manipur's NRC Demand Predates Ethnic Violence
The demand for an NRC in Manipur gained momentum before the ethnic violence that began in May 2023.
According to Singh, his government had formally taken up the demand in February 2023.
The subsequent conflict between Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities transformed the political and security landscape of the state.
More than 260 people have been killed and thousands displaced since the violence began, according to the information cited in the report.
The NRC issue is now being discussed alongside broader concerns over security, migration, land and demographic changes.
What Is the National Register of Citizens?
The National Register of Citizens (NRC) is a register intended to identify citizens based on prescribed documentation and legal criteria.
The most prominent NRC exercise in India took place in Assam, where a large-scale process was conducted to identify eligible citizens.
An NRC exercise in Manipur would involve separate administrative, legal and documentation considerations.
The demand for an NRC before the census therefore does not automatically mean that such an exercise has been approved for Manipur.
NRC vs Census: What Is the Difference?
The two exercises have different purposes.
Census
A census primarily collects demographic and socio-economic information about the population.
It provides data on factors such as:
- Population
- Age
- Gender
- Education
- Employment
- Housing
- Other demographic characteristics
NRC
An NRC is concerned with establishing a record of citizens, based on applicable legal and documentary requirements.
Therefore, an NRC and census are not interchangeable exercises.
This distinction is central to the demand being raised in Manipur, where protesters want citizenship-related verification to take place before census-related population enumeration.
What Happens Next in Manipur?
The next major question is whether the Centre will act on the demand for an NRC before the census.
Biren Singh said Amit Shah gave a patient hearing to the concerns and expressed confidence that there would be a positive response.
However, no final decision on conducting an NRC in Manipur has been indicated in the material provided.
The government would need to consider the legal, administrative and security implications before taking any decision.
For now, the issue remains part of a wider debate over migration, demographic change, census procedures, supply disruptions and the political future of Manipur.
FAQs
What is the main demand raised by N Biren Singh?
Biren Singh has demanded that NRC be conducted in Manipur before the census.
Did Biren Singh meet Amit Shah?
Yes. Singh said he met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi and raised the NRC demand along with concerns over economic blockades and supply disruptions.
Why do protesters want NRC before the census?
Supporters of the demand say an NRC should first establish who is legally recognised as a citizen before population-related enumeration is carried out.
When did Manipur's NRC demand begin?
Biren Singh said his government had taken up the NRC demand in February 2023.
What are the concerns over Manipur's demographics?
Biren Singh and protesters have raised concerns about alleged illegal immigration and what they describe as demographic imbalance. These remain matters of political and public debate and require verification through official processes.
What happened during the Imphal NRC protest?
Students protested outside the Directorate of Census Operations in Imphal demanding NRC before the census. Police used tear gas to disperse the protesters.
What are the blockade-related concerns?
Biren Singh said economic blockades and counter-blockades have disrupted essential supplies and contributed to higher prices.
How many unrecognised villages did Biren Singh mention?
Singh cited 926 unrecognised villages in Manipur and said there was a request for their recognition.
Conversation
Be kind and stay on topic. Comments are moderated; abuse, spam and personal attacks are removed. Report a problem