Manipur activists demand NRC update before Census

Protests have intensified in Manipur as activists demand that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) be updated before any upcoming Census exercise. Organized by the Campaign for Justice and Fair Delimitation (JFD), Meira Paibi women activists held a large torch rally in Imphal, chanting slogans such as ‘No NRC, No Census’ to demand the removal of outsiders from the state.

In contrast, the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) has expressed support for the Census and delimitation processes, arguing they are essential for establishing accurate demographic data. The KZC described the demand to implement the NRC before the Census as ‘premature and unjustified,’ noting that the NRC is a national exercise that cannot be unilaterally initiated by a state government or specific community. The council cautioned that the demand may be driven by speculation regarding the Kuki-Zo community's population and cited the complexities of the previous NRC process in Assam as a reason for caution.