The Manipur Government has called on the Campaign for Justice and Fair Delimitation (JFD) to end its agitation demanding the closure of Central and State government offices over the National Register of Citizens (NRC) issue. The appeal was made by Government spokespersons MLA Th. Radheshyam Singh and MLA Dr. Sapam Ranjan Singh during a press meeting at the Durbar Hall of the Chief Minister’s Secretariat in Imphal on Sunday.
Radheshyam explained that the State Government is aware of the JFD’s demand and that the people of Manipur also want the NRC conducted before the Census. He cited the 8th session of the 12th Legislative Assembly, which reaffirmed the earlier resolution, and noted that Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh had conveyed the demand to the Centre. The Assembly had also discussed fixing 1951 as the base year for the NRC, a point that has been forwarded to the Union Home Ministry.
The spokesperson warned that the agitation calling for office closures could lead to undesirable incidents, disrupt government functioning, and inconvenience the public. He urged the JFD not to intensify or prolong its protests and appealed to the public to support the government’s efforts to restore normalcy, saying, “Give peace a chance in Manipur.”
The government also clarified that Manipur Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam and several MLAs have been in New Delhi for the past few days to press the Centre on the NRC demand based on 1951, expressing hope that the central government will act in accordance with the wishes of the people of Manipur.
