Ukhrul, Mar 27: Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba today demanded the detection of illegal immigrants before changing Manipur’s electoral constituencies. Speaking during the Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha, he argued that any alterations to the state’s electoral map would be inappropriate given the current law and order situation.
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Sanajaoba highlighted a dramatic increase in villages across the Kangpokpi, Tengnoupal, Chandel, Churachandpur, and Pherzawl districts, which surged from 731 villages in 1969 to 1,624 in 2024—a 122% rise in 50 years. In contrast, he noted that in Naga-inhabited areas, the increase was only 49 villages (from 527 to 576). He suggested that this abnormal growth points to a deliberate attempt by a particular community to gain political dominance.
“Today, I raised the following matter in ZERO HOUR in Rajya Sabha on the subject ‘Demand to detect and deport the illegal immigrants first by implementing NRC (base year 1951) before any alteration (Delimitation process) in the existing electoral constituencies of Manipur’,” the Rajya Sabha MP posted on X.
The MP further warned that illegal immigrants are not only infiltrating India’s administration but are also manipulating electoral politics by exploiting the porous Indo-Myanmar border. He urged the Government of India to implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur, using 1951 as the base year, to identify and deport illegal immigrants before undertaking any delimitation or electoral alterations.
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