Manipur civil society delegation heads to Delhi over NRC-Census row

A 10-member delegation representing various communities and civil society organisations from Manipur left for New Delhi on Thursday to seek the Centre's intervention on the Census and National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercises. The delegation stressed that identification of genuine Indian citizens should precede the pending delimitation exercise in the state. The members said they would seek dialogue rather than confrontation and place their concerns before Union ministers, BJP leaders and Intelligence Bureau officials.

The delegation, which includes Serto Kom of the Kom Union Manipur, SM Jalal of AMMOCOC, Gaikhiam Thaimei of RNYOM and Dr K Heera Kabui of the Kabui Union, will also seek a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The Delhi visit comes amid intensifying agitation by the Just Fair Delimitation (JFD) over its demand for an NRC before the Census. Earlier, a team of MLAs and Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla also travelled to New Delhi separately to take the issue directly to the Centre.

Meanwhile, the Manipur government has ordered the closure of all schools, colleges and higher educational institutions across the state from August 20 to 22, citing the prevailing law and order situation amid the agitation. The decision came as a 48-hour general strike called by the JFD was nearing its conclusion, with concerns over possible student participation in further protests.