Biren Singh briefs Shah on Manipur NRC demand before census
Manipur’s former chief minister met with Home Minister Shah, conveying public demand for NRC prior to any census. The talks touched on blockades, price spikes, and a prior 2023 NRC push, with indications of a potential receptive response.
Key takeaways
- Biren Singh held a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah to convey the public demand for NRC prior to any census in Manipur.
- The discussions referenced previous efforts in February 2023 to pursue NRC and noted ongoing concerns about blockades and price increases affecting essential supplies.
- Public demonstrations and torch rallies in Imphal reflected local calls for NRC before census, citing demographic concerns linked to illegal immigration.
What Happened
Former Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh said he met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and informed him of the people’s campaign for conducting the National Register of Citizens before any census activity in the state. The meeting occurred after Singh’s two‑day trip to New Delhi, with Singh returning to Imphal on August 18, 2026.
Singh highlighted to Shah concerns about economic blockades that disrupted supplies of essential commodities and pushed up prices. He noted that the NRC demand had been taken up by the Manipur government in February 2023, prior to ethnic clashes that led to deaths and displacement. Singh claimed Shah listened and suggested a forthcoming response to the issues.
Public demonstrations outside the Directorate of Census Operations on August 16, and torch rallies in Imphal East and Imphal West the same day, reflected local calls for NRC before any census. Protesters argued that illegal immigrants could affect the state’s demographic balance. Singh mentioned the government records listing 926 unrecognised villages and a request to recognise them as well.
According to Singh, Shah gave a patient hearing to the concerns and signaled the possibility of a positive response. Singh also urged residents to avoid bandhs and violence out of frustration.
Why It Matters
The interaction centers on a politically sensitive sequence: an NRC demand tied to the census process amid ongoing communal tensions and fears about demographic shifts. A response from the central government could influence how census activities are planned or staged in Manipur, with broader implications for governance, security, and inter-community relations in the state.
Background
The Manipur government had pursued NRC in February 2023, prior to a period of ethnic strife between Meiteis and Kuki‑Zo groups that has left hundreds dead and thousands displaced since May 2023. Authorities have previously indicated that the NRC demand was being considered by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Registrar General.
Key Facts
- Former Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi and briefed him on the NRC demand before census planning in Manipur.
- The meeting followed Singh’s August 17 return to Imphal after a two‑day visit to Delhi.
- Public protests outside the Census Operations directorate occurred on August 16; tear gas was used to disperse demonstrators in Imphal.
- Protesters in Imphal East and Imphal West staged torch rallies on August 16, urging NRC before census activity.
- Manipur records reportedly mention 926 unrecognised villages; there is a call to recognise these villages as well.
- The government says the NRC demand from 2023 was being considered by central authorities; Shah reportedly gave a patient hearing and signaled a possible positive response.
What Happens Next
The report notes Shah’s assurance of addressing the issues soon, but no specific timetable for any NRC decision or census planning changes is provided. The dynamic depends on central government consideration and any subsequent announcements tied to the NRC and census process in Manipur.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
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