Six student bodies on Saturday staged a rally in Imphal, demanding implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur.
The rally started from Imphal College in Tiddim Road and marched towards the Raj Bhavan; however, they were stopped by a police team at the gate.
Placards which read, ‘Detect and deport illegal immigrants from Myanmar, Nepal and Bangladesh’ and ‘We demand the Centre to implement the NRC in Manipur’ were displayed during the rally.
After the police team stopped the students, the students shouted slogans in front of the Raj Bhavan gate, demanding implementation of NRC. Later, the students returned back to the starting point where they held a meeting.
The six student bodies, namely Manipuri Students’ Federation (MSF), Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur (DESAM), Kangleipak Students’ Association (KSA), Students’ Union of Kangleipak (SUK) and Apunba Ireipakki Maheiroi Singpanglup (AIMS) and another students organization have been demanding the Central and state governments for the introduction of the NRC in the state, stating that implementation of the NRC is the only long-term policy to check the ever-increasing illegal immigrants in the state.
While speaking to the media, DESAM secretary general Mayengbam Somorjit Meitei said that the demonstration in front of Governor Bungalow is to implement NRC in Manipur. Many more illegal immigrants are settling in Manipur and causing conflicts without updating in registration, he said.
He raised concern that no SoO cadres were found at their camps during search operations conducted by security forces following the cold blooded and unprovoked murder of an SDPO in Moreh by Kuki militants.
It was in the month of June and July the state government said the cadres are at their respective camps. “It was a complete lie told towards the general public. The state is still unable to identify illegal immigrants in Churachandpur,” he said.
The state government should pressure the Central government for implementation of NRC as soon as possible and take up action or else more strong agitation will be initiated, he added.
Mentioned may be made that the Manipur government had set up a Population Commission and asked the Centre to conduct an NRC exercise to detect and deport illegal immigrants.
Those who came to Manipur before 1961, will be treated as permanent settlers and those who came after 1961, will not be treated as permanent settlers, he said. However, the student bodies are demanding that 1951 should be made the base year of the NRC, he added.
