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The atmosphere of tension regarding internal security, citizenship and demography has once again heated up in the north-eastern state of Manipur. Just before the upcoming census in the country, thousands of local people have come out on the streets in many areas including Imphal, the capital of Manipur. 14 major civil organizations and social organizations of the state have opened a front against the Central Government in one voice, demanding major and stringent amendments in the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The agitators have taken a very tough stand and have given the slogan in clear words, ‘If there is no amendment in NRC, we will not allow census to be conducted in Manipur.’ After this huge protest, the state administration and intelligence agencies have come on full alert mode.

Outrage started from Tiddim Maidan of Imphal, security forces waved for 5 kilometers

This rally, called for the survival of Manipur and to protect the rights of the local residents, was extremely huge and aggressive. Thousands of people, including women, youth and elderly, participated in the protest rally that started from the historic Tiddim Maidan in Imphal. This crowd covered a long distance of about five kilometers and ended at Thau Maidan. Considering the sensitivity of the rally and the current situation in Manipur, heavy police force and central security forces were deployed throughout Imphal and the rally route to immediately prevent any untoward incident or violence. It was fortunate that despite the huge anger, the entire rally was completed peacefully.

Slogans echoed ‘Stop neglecting Manipur’, demand raised to expel illegal immigrants from the country

The protesters participating in the rally had big banners and placards in their hands, on which sharp questions were written against the central government. The agitators were continuously raising deafening slogans like ‘Don’t ignore Manipur’ and ‘Send back illegal immigrants’. Local organizations mainly allege that due to continuous illegal infiltration from neighboring countries, Manipur’s cultural identity, land and employment are under threat. Their most important demand is that all illegal immigrants living in the state should be immediately and scientifically identified, their names should be struck off from the voter list and they should be honorably deported back to their country.

If the issue was raised in Assam and Bengal then why discriminate against Manipur? Serious questions raised on the intentions of the Center

Shanta Nahakpam, the main spokesperson of this entire mass movement, seriously accused the ruling party at the Center of adopting double standards. Speaking to the media, he said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had raised the issue of illegal immigrants and citizenship very loudly during the assembly elections of Assam and West Bengal, but the silence of the government in the case of Manipur is beyond comprehension. There are many sensitive issues in Manipur including illegal migration and border fencing on the Myanmar border which are directly to the security of the country. Shanta Nahakpam further said that we feel that the Central Government is not interested in implementing NRC in Manipur, which is very worrying.

Delimitation of assembly seats should happen only after NRC amendment, civil organizations put the last condition

Spokesperson Shanta Nahakpam and representatives of 14 civil organizations participating in the rally have made their final demands clear to the government. He said that the people of Manipur are not opposing the census, but their condition is that first the government should make strict amendments in the rules of NRC so that no foreign citizen can become a legal citizen of India. Along with this, he has demanded that fresh delimitation of assembly seats in Manipur should be done only after the NRC process is completed and illegal immigrants are weeded out. If the government tries to conduct census or delimitation without NRC amendment, an even bigger and more violent movement will be started in the entire state.