SENAPATI: In the light of ensuring a fair census enumeration in the state, the United Naga Council had urged the State Government to postpone the census exercises in Manipur until certain key concerns are addressed. The following reasons were given as:
- The looming issue of Illegal immigrants calls for precondition of citizenship verification –
The enumeration of illegal immigrants through National Register of Citizens to ascertain the actual citizen must precede any census, lest the census risks incorporating non-citizens that will vitiate demographic records and ultimately defeat the purpose of its exercises. - Breakdown of public order –The prevailing situations in Manipur is still volatile due to continued ethnic conflict and displacement. Conducting a census amid such chaos will not yield reliable data and there is a likelihood of further inflame the tensions among communities already living in mistrust and insecurity.
- Unresolved District Roll Back Issue –The pending district rollback issues is a great matter of concern involving public sentiment for the Nagas; conducting census operations therein would entrench contested jurisdictions and resulting to social upheaval.
Given these circumstances, proceeding with the census would be procedurally infirm and contrary to the very purpose of its exercise, UNC stated. The UNC therefore requested the state Chief Minister for immediate postponement until favorable conditions are ensured for the conduct of census in the state, considering public interest.
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