IMPHAL | Normal life remained disrupted across large parts of Manipur on Wednesday as the 48-hour general strike called by the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD) entered its second day, with protesters demanding that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) be updated before the Census. Amid the growing agitation, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh reiterated that his government supports the implementation of the NRC before the Census.

Speaking at an interaction with artistes at the Chief Minister’s Bungalow, Singh said the state Assembly had already passed a resolution on the issue in 2022. The Chief Minister, however, also called for efforts to rebuild trust among the Meitei, Kuki and Naga communities, stressing that an entire community should not be blamed for the actions of a few individuals.

“The conflict, which initially involved two communities, has now expanded to include three communi ties,” Singh said, urging the Meitei community to take the lead in initiatives aimed at bringing the crisis to an end. He said restoring trust would require breaking down the barriers that have emerged between communities during the prolonged crisis. Citing Jiribam as an example, Singh said different communities there continue to live together peacefully. ties,” Singh said, urging the Meitei community to take the lead in initiatives aimed at bringing the crisis to an end.

He said restoring trust would require breaking down the barriers that have emerged between communities during the prolonged crisis. Citing Jiribam as an example, Singh said different communities there continue to live together peacefully. Calls for NRC before Census The Joint Tribes Council Manipur (JTCM) on Wednesday separately urged the Centre and the state government to implement the NRC in Manipur using 1951 as the base year to identify bona fide citizens and detect illegal immigrants.

The council also demanded that both the Census and delimitation exercises be deferred until the NRC process is completed. The JTCM expressed concern over what it described as continued influx across the international border and its possible impact on the state’s demographic composition. It said the issue has implications for the identity, land, resources and political rights of indigenous communities.

The council further demanded the de-recognition of villages allegedly recognised without fulfilling prescribed legal requirements. It warned of further agitation, including bandhs, rallies and sit-ins, if the government proceeds with the Census despite opposition to the cur rent process.

The United Naga Council (UNC) has also maintained that the Census and delimitation exercises should not be undertaken in Manipur before implementation of the NRC. The UNC and the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) had submitted a joint memorandum to the Prime Minister through the Governor in May 2024, seeking implementation of the NRC before any Census exercise.

Strike affects valley districts The JFD strike severely affected normal activities in several valley districts on Wednesday. Markets remained closed and schools and colleges stayed shut in many areas, while protests, road blockades and confrontations between security personnel and strike supporters were reported from several locations. At Khurai Lamlong Bazar in Imphal East, security forces and protesters reportedly engaged in repeated scuffles amid road blockades and slogans.

A security convoy was forced to turn back after protesters blocked its movement, while a youth was reportedly injured during the confrontation. Protesters also burnt effigies of Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh and Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam. In Thoubal district, protests reportedly disrupted the functioning of the district administration, with staff returning from near the Deputy Commissioner’s office.

At Porompat, protesters attempted to enter the Census office, prompting security personnel to prevent them from entering the premises. Road blockades were also reported from Nomeibung Ayangpali, Uripok and Airport Lines, keeping vehicles off several roads. Government offices in Thoubal, Kakching and Bishnupur recorded thin attendance, although the strike had comparatively limited impact in the hill districts, including Churachandpur.

The 48-hour strike is scheduled to conclude at midnight on August 19. Census process underway The latest agitation comes as the self-enumeration phase of Census 2027 is underway in Manipur. The process began on August 17 and is scheduled to continue until August 31. The house-listing and housing census is scheduled to be conducted from September 1 to 30. The JFD’s latest agitation follows a series of protests and a torch rally in Imphal demanding that NRC updation precede the Census.

On Tuesday, state government spokesperson Sapam Ranjan Singh said a delegation of legislators would travel to New Delhi to convey the demand to central leaders. Reports have also indicated that NDA legislators from Manipur are planning discussions in Delhi on the issue. With the state government publicly reiterating its support for the NRC demand while different civil society groups press for its implementation before the Census, the issue is emerging as a major point of contention as the Census process moves ahead.