Manipur: Students bodies hold mega rally seeking immediate implementation of NRC

Six students organisations in Manipur have renewed their agitation demanding implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state with immediate effect.

Members of the All Manipur Students Union (AMSU), Manipur Students Federation (MSF), Democratic Students Alliance of Manipur (DESAM), Kuki Students Association (KSA) Students’ Union of Kangleipak (SUK), Apunba Ireipak-ki Maheiroi Singpang Lup (AIMS) took out a rally from the Imphal College till Raj Bhawan in support of the demand.

The protestors also staged a sit in demonstration in front of the Raj Bhawan.

Lamyanba, Co-ordinator of the 6 students’ bodies flayed the alleged delay by the government in addressing the issue.

He said, “We submitted memorandums in 2022 also, we submitted memorandums to the Prime Minister also, we already had many rounds of talks with the union ministers also. In March this year we went to Delhi and held a peaceful demonstration demanding implementation of NRC, demanding detection and deportation of illegal migrants from the soil of Manipur. We submitted memorandum to Union Home Minister Amit Shah also. But so far no response has been made. So our lives are becoming uncertain day by day.”

“We will continue our agitation till our demands are fulfilled and also for saving our indigenous population,” Lamyanba said.

The student leader, highlighting the urgency of the situation, said that illegal migrants were a source of the recent conflict in the state.

Lamyanba said, “From the past we have been demanding the implementation of NRC in Manipur to detect and deport illegal migrants from the soil of the state. As you know that many of the illegal migrants are coming from Myanmar, Bangladesh and settling in Manipur. They are also one of the source of the present crisis, as many reports have found that. So in order to resolve such kind of crisis, implementation of NRC is needed. It is needed to save the indigenous people in the state as well as the Indian citizens.”

On March 20, the students’ bodies had sent a memorandum to Union Home Minister Amit Shah for looking into the matter and issue suitable instructions to concerned authorities.

In the memorandum, the students’ bodies demanded that there must be an NRC in the state as it has been done in Assam with 1951 as the base year. The students’ groups are demanding the same cut off year 1951 for implementation of NRC in Manipur.

The students’ bodies had organized a consultative meeting in Imphal on April 12, wherein different communities, student organisations as well as other pressure groups decided to support protests, movements for NRC in Manipur.

Read also: Thousands protest against illegal immigrants in Manipur; submits memorandum to PM Modi through DC