IMPHAL | The Manipur government has appealed to the Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD) campaign to put its September 30 deadline on hold, assuring that its demands, including conducting a National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise before the Census, are being considered seriously.

Government spokesperson and MLA Sapam Ranjan made the appeal during a press conference at his residence in Konthoujam, Imphal West, on Saturday. Ranjan said the state government was examining the memorandum submitted by the JFD and was making efforts to translate its demands into action.

One of the organisation’s key demands is that an NRC exercise be conducted in Manipur before the Census. The demand has emerged amid concerns over the state’s demographic profile and an ongoing debate over delimitation.

Referring to the postponement of the Census, Ranjan said the government would continue efforts to address the concerns and aspirations raised by people across the state. “I would like to appeal to the JFD to put the deadline on hold, and then let us all work together,” Ranjan said.

He said the issues raised by the organisation were linked to Manipur’s future and development and had implications for different sections of society. “We are all in the same boat, and we will definitely take every matter with the utmost sincerity,” Ranjan said, appealing to the JFD to cooperate with the government.

The government’s appeal comes as the JFD continues to press for an NRC exercise ahead of the Census, along with other demands linked to delimitation and the state’s demographic concerns.