Central Government Defers Census Operations in Manipur

The central government has deferred the Census operations in Manipur, which were scheduled to begin on September 1. The decision followed a high level review meeting in New Delhi chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and attended by Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla and Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh. The first phase of the Census, involving house listing, was intended to run from September 1 through September 0.

The deferment comes in response to demands from various groups in Manipur to update the National Register of Citizens (NRC) before conducting the headcount. Specifically, 14 civil society organizations representing the Meitei, Naga, and Meitei Pangal communities have campaigned for the NRC to be implemented using 1951 as the base year to identify illegal migrants from Myanmar. The Chief Minister thanked the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister, and the civil society groups for their efforts in securing this decision.

While many groups opposed the Census, the Kuki Zo Council dismissed the demand for an NRC as premature and unjustified, welcoming the original Census schedule. The High Court of Manipur has also directed that the Census exercise remain deferred until further orders following petitions from the Kangleipak Students Association and other civil society representatives.

Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh urged civil society groups to continue dialogue and cooperation with the administration, stating that shutdowns and general strikes would not help in pressing demands. A center right source noted that protests had already disrupted the training of census workers and the opening of self enumeration facilities. A center left source highlighted the specific legal petitions filed in the High Court to address concerns over illegal migration.