‘NRC first, census later’: N Biren Singh tells Amit Shah of Manipur demand

Former Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh on Tuesday said he has held a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and apprised him of the people's demand for NRC before the conduct of any census activity in the state.

Singh, who returned to Imphal this morning after a two-day visit to New Delhi, said he also raised the issues of economic blockades resulting in the disruption of supplies of essential commodities and an increase in prices. 

"I went to Delhi to meet Home Minister Amit Shah and met him yesterday after getting an appointment. I apprised him of the issues related to economic blockades and counter-blockades, which shot up prices of essential commodities and affected supplies of commodities. Shah assured me of addressing the issues soon," the ex-chief minister said. 

Singh said he informed Shah about the people's appeal for the "conduct of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) that was taken up by my government in February 2023" before the ethnic strife broke out in the state.

More than 260 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic strife between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups since May 2023. 

"The Ministry of Home Affairs and the registrar general had then informed that the demand sent by the then government was being considered. I also apprised Shah that people are not against the conduct of census but are demanding NRC first and then conduct of census," he said.

Students, demanding implementation of the NRC in Manipur before the census, staged a demonstration outside the Directorate of Census Operations here on Sunday, prompting the police to fire tear gas shells to disperse them.

Hundreds of protesters in Imphal East and Imphal West districts also held a torch rally on August 16 evening, demanding implementation of the NRC before any census activity in the state to identify illegal immigrants.

Singh said that people are apprehensive that the "presence of illegal immigrants in the state has affected demographic imbalance".

"As per the government records, there are 926 unrecognised villages. There is a request to the government for recognition of these villages as well. Shah gave a patient hearing to our concerns. I genuinely believe and feel that there will be a positive response to the demands raised by the people," Singh said. 

He also appealed to the people not to resort to bandhs and violence out of frustration.