Imphal : Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Sunday backed the demand for an update of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state but urged groups spearheading the agitation to shun bandhs and blockades, saying such disruptions would only add to the hardships of ordinary people.

The appeal came ahead of a proposed 24-hour shutdown by the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD) from midnight on August 31. The group has threatened the bandh over its demand that the Census be deferred until the NRC is updated.

The JFD has also indicated that its next phase of agitation would be linked to the Manipur Assembly session, which begins on September 2.

Speaking to the Directorate of Information and Public Relations before leaving for New Delhi, Khemchand said both the state and Central governments were committed to addressing the concerns raised by civil society groups.

He said a recent campaign by 14 civil society organisations, along with a delegation of MLAs that travelled to New Delhi to press for an NRC update before the Census, had received a positive response from the Centre. Khemchand said there was little merit in resorting to shutdowns when discussions with the Centre were already underway.

“Bandh will not serve any purpose,” the Chief Minister said, appealing to organisations to adopt other democratic means to press their demands.

He said shutdowns disproportionately affect people dependent on daily earnings, particularly women vegetable vendors and daily-wage workers. Students, too, suffer when educational institutions are disrupted and the academic calendar is affected, he said.

The Chief Minister, however, reiterated the state government’s support for updating the NRC in Manipur. The issue has emerged as a major political and social flashpoint ahead of Census 2027, with civil society organisations arguing that the exercise should be preceded by an NRC update.

Several groups have also demanded that 1951 be used as the base year for identifying citizens, while opposing the conduct of the Census before the NRC exercise. The agitation has so far included rallies, road blockades and protests against Census-related training programmes in parts of the state.

The state government has maintained that it is pursuing the NRC issue with the Centre. Earlier this month, Khemchand had said the government was working towards taking the demand forward, while Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam said Manipur was prepared to undertake the exercise within the constitutional and legal framework.

Khemchand also warned that while peaceful democratic protest was legitimate, those attempting to disrupt public order or violate the law would face action.

The Chief Minister is scheduled to meet senior Central leaders in New Delhi to discuss issues concerning the state. Meanwhile, the government has also highlighted the restoration of the Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati bus service after a gap of more than three years.

Khemchand said the resumption of the service would provide an affordable alternative for people travelling between Imphal and Guwahati, many of whom have had to rely on costly air travel during the period when the bus service remained suspended.