Imphal: Leishemba Sanajaoba, the titular king of Manipur and a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha has urged the central government to address the state’s “unnatural or abnormal” population growth and implement a National Register of Citizens (NRC) to detect and deport illegal immigrants.
Sanajaoba expressed concern over the population growth rate in some hill districts, which he claims is significantly higher than the national average.
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“This necessitates monitoring for social and economic planning as well as maintaining the state’s demographic balance”, he said in a statement.
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He further stated that the ongoing communal violence, which has entered its ninth month, is partly attributable to the abnormal population growth rate, porous border fencing, access to the Free Movement Regime (FMR), lax border security, manipulation of census data for political gain, and immigration from neighbouring countries.
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The call for an NRC in Manipur is likely to spark debate, with critics arguing that it could disenfranchise genuine Indian citizens, particularly members of minority communities.
The issue of illegal immigration is also sensitive in the region, with some residents alleging that immigrants are taking jobs and resources away from locals.