Kuki-Zo Council Opposes Call for NRC Before Manipur Census

IMPHAL, August 24, 2026: The Kuki-Zo Council has rejected demands by Meitei civil society organisations for a National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur before the 2027 Census, calling the proposal “premature and unjustified” and urging that the census be conducted impartially.

In a statement issued on August 23, the council said Census 2027 was necessary to establish reliable demographic data and address competing claims about population figures, particularly those concerning the Kuki community amid the continuing ethnic conflict in the state.

The statement followed a 48-hour agitation led by the student wing of the Just and Fair Delimitation and other Meitei organisations. The protesters called for census-related activities to be suspended until alleged illegal immigrants are identified and proposed 1951 as the base year for determining citizenship.

Meitei organisations have argued that an NRC is necessary to address concerns over undocumented migration and demographic changes and have linked the demand to efforts to find a lasting solution to the ethnic conflict that has gripped Manipur since 2023.

The Kuki-Zo Council, however, said an NRC falls under the authority of the Central Government and cannot be independently initiated or conducted by a particular community or state organisation.

It said demographic concerns should first be addressed through an objective population census rather than through an exercise based on allegations and speculation.

The council also welcomed the proposed delimitation exercise, which was delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic. It said delimitation based on verified demographic data could help ensure fair political representation.

Referring to the NRC exercise in Assam conducted under the Assam Accord of 1985, the council noted that about 19 lakh people were excluded from the final list, leaving many involved in prolonged legal and administrative proceedings.

It urged those demanding a similar exercise in Manipur to consider the legal, administrative and social consequences before pursuing the proposal.

The council also cautioned against turning demographic questions into “communal propaganda or victimisation” in a state already deeply affected by ethnic tensions. It called on all sections of society to allow the census process to proceed as scheduled.

The issue has also put the Manipur government under pressure from competing demands. On August 20, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand told student representatives campaigning for an NRC before Census 2027 that the state government supported the demand. He also said the matter would be discussed during the state Assembly session scheduled to begin on September 2.

The opposing positions have intensified debate over citizenship, migration and demographic representation in Manipur. With Census 2027 approaching, the question of whether an NRC should precede the census is expected to remain politically contentious.

For the Kuki-Zo Council, the immediate priority is an impartial census that establishes credible demographic facts without further aggravating the state’s existing ethnic divisions.

Courtesy : The Wire

Photo Courtesy: PTI