Imphal: The Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD) on Monday decided to intensify its agitation demanding an update of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur, following Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam’s assurance in the Assembly that 1951 would be used as the base year for the exercise.
The decision was taken at a public meeting held at the Citizens’ Club ground in Wangkhei Khunou Soibam Leikai in Imphal East, where the final sitting of the Assembly session was screened live. JFD convenor Jeetendra Ningomba said the state government must now obtain a formal commitment from the Centre and establish a tentative timeline for updating the NRC.
Following the screening, JFD members and participants adopted a seven-point resolution outlining the next phase of their agitation.
Under the resolution, the state government, led by the Chief Minister and Home Minister, has been asked to secure a formal assurance from the Centre by September 10, 2026, on updating the NRC with 1951 as the base year.
The JFD said that if the assurance is not secured by the deadline, it will enforce a ban on employees attending State and Central government offices from September 11. Essential services such as healthcare, education, water supply, fire services, electricity and agriculture would remain exempt from the proposed action.
The organisation also announced that its campaign would continue indefinitely through different forms of protest until the demand for a 1951-based NRC is implemented.
The JFD further called for the deferment of census-related activities and said any house-listing or population enumeration before the NRC update would be opposed. Local clubs and Meira Paibi groups have also been urged to continue boycotting census-related activities within their respective areas.
The resolution also called on citizens to maintain pressure on their elected representatives to act on the demand. The JFD said both the Central and state governments would be held responsible for any untoward incidents arising during the agitation.
Meanwhile, protests in support of the NRC demand continued in different parts of Manipur. Under the JFD’s banner, several local organisations jointly organised a boat rally at Loktak Lake on Monday. Participants included the Thanga Wangma Youth Union Club, HECO, ARICA, KIDO, the Loktak Lake Tourism Development Organisation and local boat associations.
JFD spokesperson Mayengbam Somorjit said what he described as the influx of undocumented immigrants posed a serious threat to the future of Manipur’s indigenous communities and reiterated the demand for an NRC based on 1951.
In another protest, torch rallies were held across Thoubal district on Monday night. Local Meira Paibi groups and joint coordinating committees organised the demonstrations, with hundreds of residents taking part and blocking roads while demanding that the state Assembly pass a formal resolution supporting implementation of the 1951-based NRC.