IMPHAL/UKHRUL: Manipur Government spokesperson Dr. Sapam Ranjan on Saturday appealed to the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD) to put its deadline on hold, assuring that the government is taking its memorandum on updation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), 1951, seriously and is making efforts to act on the demands.
Speaking to the media at his residence, Dr. Ranjan said the government fully understood the seriousness of the issues raised by JFD and was committed to pursuing the demands.
“The government is sincerely trying to put all of them into action,” he said.
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Dr. Ranjan pointed out that JFD’s longstanding demand was for updation of the NRC before the Census and noted that the Census in Manipur has already been postponed.
Against this backdrop, he urged JFD to allow the government more time to pursue the issues and appealed for cooperation rather than proceeding with the deadline.
“I would like to appeal to the JFD to put the deadline on hold. Let us all work together for the betterment of our state, for the future of our people and for the betterment of all sections of society,” he said.
Dr. Ranjan maintained that the government was treating the matter with utmost sincerity and would continue to work on the concerns raised by the people.
“We are all in the same boat,” he said, stressing the need for collective efforts to take Manipur forward.
The appeal comes after JFD submitted a memorandum seeking a series of time-bound measures for the updation of the NRC, 1951, and called upon the State Government to initiate some or all of the proposed measures within September 2026.
Among the key measures proposed by JFD is the empowerment, strengthening and reconstitution of the Manipur State Population Commission with adequate powers, resources and institutional mechanisms to deal with population-related matters.
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JFD also sought preparation and publication of a comprehensive white paper on illegal migration based on verifiable and authenticated records and official data, which it said could serve as a reference for the NRC updation process.
The organisation further demanded the tracing, preservation, verification and authentication of the original NRC, 1951, along with other historical records relating to population, citizenship and residency in Manipur.
It also proposed formulation and implementation of a comprehensive State Population Policy by December 2026 to address demographic changes and related concerns.
JFD has urged the State Government, based on the proposed white paper, to approach the Government of India for updation of the NRC, 1951, retaining 1951 as the cut-off base year.
The memorandum further called upon the chief minister, Home Minister and the State Government to take up the matter with the Centre for complete deferment of the forthcoming population enumeration in Manipur and for early initiation of the NRC updation process.
JFD had also appealed to MLAs, as representatives of the people, to support the demand by signing a declaration enclosed with the memorandum.
With the deadline set by JFD having become a key point of contention, Dr. Ranjan’s Saturday appeal signals the government’s request for additional time to work on the demands while seeking continued cooperation from the campaign.
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