--- title: "Congress seeks postponement of Manipur Census citing displacement" url: https://projectchintan.com/article/manipur-census-postponement-displacement-2ql30 publisher: Project Chintan author: Project Chintan Newsroom section: Politics published: 2026-08-20T17:32:51.818Z modified: 2026-08-20T20:00:06.005Z language: en-IN --- # Congress seeks postponement of Manipur Census citing displacement The Congress urged delaying the Manipur Census, arguing ongoing violence and widespread homelessness make accurate enumeration infeasible. They cited about 60,000 displaced since May 2023, with over 10,000 houses destroyed, and called for NRC completion before any fresh census. ## Key takeaways - The Congress has pressed to postpone the Manipur Census, not cancel it, citing safety and humanitarian concerns. - Approximately 60,000 people have been homeless since violence began in May 2023, with substantial housing destruction reported. - The party links census timing to the NRC process and demands actions to identify non-citizens through Foreigners Tribunals. ## What Happened The Congress asked for the Census exercise in Manipur to be postponed, not canceled, citing ongoing violence and the displacement of thousands. A. Bimol Akoijam, Inner Manipur MP, told reporters in Delhi that conducting the census under current conditions would be unjust to those affected by the conflict. He noted security was deployed in Imphal during a campaign by the Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD) group, which is pressing for NRC updation before the Census 2027. He stated that about 60,000 people have been homeless since violence began on May 3, 2023, with many living in relief camps, more than 10,000 houses destroyed, and several villages devastated. The Congress clarified it sought postponement until conditions were conducive, not cancellation. Akoijam also said accurate house listing of the homeless in relief camps would be practically impossible and that proceeding with the census could compound injustice. He said he had raised the matter in Parliament under Rule 377 and written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He additionally called for NRC completion before the Census and for Foreigners Tribunals in the state to identify non-citizens. He argued questions about population figures from the 2001 and 2011 censuses needed resolution before a fresh enumeration. ## Why It Matters The demand centers on the integrity and feasibility of conducting a comprehensive population count in a conflict-affected region. If postponed, the census would wait for conditions deemed more conducive by the Congress member, potentially affecting planning, resource allocation, and demographic data used for policy and political processes. The Congress tied its request to concerns about illegal migration across the Myanmar border and the NRC process, suggesting that unresolved citizenship and security issues could influence census results. ## Background The statement frames Manipur as currently experiencing ongoing violence that began in May 2023, leading to large-scale displacement and destruction of housing. The JFD campaign and calls for NRC updates are part of broader debates surrounding delimitation, citizenship, and population data in the state, which the Congress says should be resolved before any fresh enumeration. ## Key Facts - The Congress sought postponement of the Manipur Census rather than cancellation. - Displacement: about 60,000 people homeless since violence began on May 3, 2023. - Housing destruction: more than 10,000 houses destroyed; several villages devastated. - Locations mentioned: Imphal during a JFD campaign; remarks made in Delhi at a press conference. - A. Bimol Akoijam is the Congress Inner Manipur MP who spoke on the issue. - Akoijam said he raised the matter in Parliament under Rule 377 and wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. - Issues cited include the NRC process and the need to identify non-citizens via Foreigners Tribunals in Manipur. - Population-figure concerns from the 2001 and 2011 censuses were cited as needing resolution before a new census. ## What Happens Next The article does not specify a concrete next step beyond the Congress’s request to postpone the census and complete NRC-related processes first. Any decision would depend on government assessment of security and feasibility in Manipur, as well as political considerations surrounding delimitation and citizenship procedures. --- Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/manipur-census-postponement-displacement-2ql30 Reported from: Multiple Sources