Manipur CM appeals against NRC-related shutdown

GUWAHATI

Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Sunday (August 30, 2026) said he favoured updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the State, but insisted that shutdowns and blockades were not the way to seek the exercise.

The Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation, an umbrella group of 14 civil society organisations, threatened a 24-hour shutdown from midnight on August 31 if the Centre did not defer the Census exercise and start the NRC process in the State. The group also said it would time its next phase of agitation with the Manipur Assembly session beginning September 2.

The Meitei and Naga communities want the NRC to be updated before the Census is undertaken to weed out “illegal immigrants”, specifically people from across Myanmar. The Kuki-Zo groups are against the NRC, arguing that using 1951 as its base year would be unfair to the hill tribes.

“We are committed to fulfilling the aspirations of the people of Manipur. Calling a shutdown will not serve any purpose and will instead create more hardship for the people,” the Chief Minister said in Imphal before leaving for New Delhi to meet top Central leaders and discuss major issues, including the NRC.

Urging the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation and others to adopt other forms of democratic agitation, Mr. Singh warned that those who break the law or attempt to create disorder would face stringent action.

Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam said Manipur was prepared to conduct the NRC exercise within the constitutional and legal framework.

According to the JRD, the Census exercise was not as important as updating the NRC, given the existential threat the indigenous communities of Manipur have been facing from “non-native” settlers. The group has cited the examples of Assam and Jammu and Kashmir, where the Census operations were not held in 1981 and 1991 due to an anti-foreigners agitation, and extremism, respectively.