JFD Calls Assembly Discussion on NRC Incomplete, Seeks Clarity on 1951 Base Year

IMPHAL: The Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD) on Wednesday said that the discussion held in the Manipur Legislative Assembly on the demand to defer the Census until the updation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) was incomplete, as the issue of adopting 1951 as the base year for NRC updation was not clearly addressed.

Speaking at a press meet held at the JFD protest site at Citizens’ Club in Imphal East, JFD Co-Convenor Longjam Ratankumar said the organisation welcomed the fact that the people’s demand was discussed during the first session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly.

He said the matter had reached the Assembly following sustained public pressure and agitation over the demand for NRC updation before conducting the Census.

However, Ratankumar maintained that the discussion did not fully reflect the demand being raised by the people, particularly regarding the base year for updating the NRC.

“The issue would have been better addressed had the Assembly clearly mentioned the base year for NRC updation in accordance with the demand of the people of Manipur,” he said, reiterating JFD’s demand for updating the NRC with 1951 as the base year.

Meanwhile, JFD Convenor Jeetendra Ningomba expressed gratitude to the public for supporting the 24-hour general strike called by the JFD from the night of August 31 to September 1 under the slogan “No NRC, No Census.”

He said JFD and its Task Force appreciated the widespread public support for the strike and maintained that the organisation’s core demand remained unchanged.

Jeetendra Ningomba also said that recent statements regarding the deferment of the Census in Manipur should not be considered an official confirmation until a formal order is issued by the Government of India.

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According to JFD, there is still no official order confirming that the Census in Manipur has been deferred.

The organisation reiterated that it would continue its democratic agitation until an official order regarding the deferment of the Census is issued and its demand for updating the NRC using 1951 as the base year is addressed.

JFD has been spearheading the ongoing agitation in Manipur demanding that the NRC be updated before the Census is conducted, maintaining its campaign under the slogan “No NRC, No Census.”