Manipur Protests Continue Over Delayed Census Amid Ethnic Tensions

Manipur’s anti‑Census protests intensified after the Union government announced a deferment of the 2027 population enumeration, but a formal order has yet to be issued. The Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD), a coalition of local groups, has called for a 24‑hour shutdown of the Imphal Valley, demanding that the postponement be officially published in the government gazette. The shutdown, which began early Tuesday, has paralyzed transport and commerce in Imphal and surrounding districts, with vendors at Khwairamband Ima Market staging an indefinite sit‑in.

The Union government’s decision came amid escalating ethnic violence in Manipur, where 300 people have died since May 2023, and growing pressure to update the National Register of Citizens (NRC) before conducting a Census. Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a review meeting in New Delhi to “assess the current situation” and announced the deferment a day before the house‑listing exercise was to begin. The Manipur High Court has already directed that the house‑listing remain on hold pending further notification and is hearing petitions that call for an updated NRC.

JFD convener Jeetendra Ningomba said the shutdown would continue until the postponement is notified in the gazette. “We will not end the bandh until the government takes formal steps to defer the Census,” he said. The group’s student wing has already locked down the Directorate of Census Operations, Manipur, and torch rallies have been held in several parts of the state, especially in the Imphal Valley.

The protest movement is driven by ethnic demands. Naga and Meitei organizations have been staging demonstrations since August 16, demanding an updated NRC to prevent “demographic changes” caused by illegal migrants from neighbouring Myanmar. In contrast, the Kuki‑Zo Council (KZC), the apex body of the Kuki‑Zo community, argues that an NRC before the Census is premature and unjustified. The KZC cited the Assam experience under the 1985 Assam Accord, where the NRC excluded about 1.9 million people and led to ongoing legal challenges and appeals in Foreigners Tribunals.

The Union government’s deferment was presented as a response to the “feelings and aspirations” of the people of Manipur, according to the chief minister’s office. However, the lack of a formal gazette notification has left protestors uncertain about the legal status of the postponement, fueling further unrest. The high court’s interim order remains in force until the next hearing on October 12, during which petitions for an updated NRC will be examined.

The 2027 Census is scheduled to begin nationwide in March 2027, but the Manipur state’s situation remains volatile. The JFD and allied groups continue to demand a formal deferment order, arguing that a census without an updated NRC could undermine the state’s demographic balance and exacerbate ethnic tensions. Meanwhile, Kuki‑Zo activists maintain that the NRC should not be conducted before the Census, fearing that the process could be used to disenfranchise legitimate residents.

As the protests persist, local businesses and commuters face disruptions. Roads in Imphal have been blocked by protestors, and the shutdown has halted the supply chain for many vendors. The state’s authorities are monitoring the situation closely, with the high court’s directive providing a temporary pause while the legal and administrative process unfolds.

The outcome of the pending petitions and the issuance of a formal deferment order will shape Manipur’s participation in the national Census and could set a precedent for how the government handles census operations in conflict‑prone regions. The next court hearing on October 12 is expected to clarify whether an updated NRC will be required and whether the Census will be postponed further or proceed as originally planned.

#Manipur #AntiCensusProtests #NRC #UnionGovernment #ImphalValley #AmitShah #HighCourt #KukiZo #Naga #Meitei