Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation calls a two-day Manipur strike over conducting the Census without updating the NRC, while women vendors protest in Imphal.
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IMPHAL — The Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD) has called a two-day general strike across Manipur from midnight of August 17, protesting the government’s decision to begin the Census exercise without first updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
JFD convenor Jeetendra Ningombam announced the strike during a press conference at the organisation’s office in Imphal on Monday.
Jeetendra said the group had repeatedly urged the state government to complete the NRC update before conducting the Census.
He said several forms of protest had already been organised over the demand, but the government had failed to take action.
“We are making the demand considering future generations, as the problem of illegal immigrants in the state is very serious,” he said.
Representatives of civil society organisations from the Naga and Meitei Pangal communities also attended the press conference.
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Meanwhile, thousands of women vendors at Nupi Keithel in Imphal shut their shops and staged a protest demonstration at Khwairamband Keithel, demanding that illegal immigrants be detected before the Census exercise begins.
The usually bustling Khwairamband Keithel and main market area wore a deserted look as women vendors downed their shutters and suspended business to join the protest organised by various Nupi Keithel organisations.
The protesters displayed placards carrying slogans such as “No NRC, No Census” and “No IDP Settlement, No Census”.
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They said their demand was not against the Census itself, but against conducting the exercise without first addressing concerns related to illegal immigration and the settlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs).
A similar protest rally involving a large number of women was also held along Tiddim Road up to Keishampat in Imphal, demanding that the NRC be updated before the Census.
Manipur Assembly session from Sept. 2
The eighth session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly will commence on September 2 at 11 am, following an order issued by Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla.
Secretary of the Manipur Legislative Assembly Rohit Sapam issued a notification to this effect on Monday.
The governor had summoned the session through an order dated August 14. The session will be held at the Assembly Hall in Imphal.
The number of sittings for the upcoming session will be decided by the Business Advisory Committee at a later date.