DIMAPUR, APRIL 30 (MExN): The Zeliangrong Union (Assam, Manipur & Nagaland) has condemned the “continued delay and lack of political will” in addressing the issue of illegal immigration in Manipur. The union demanded immediate implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur with 1951 as the base year to be completed prior to the incoming Census of India.
“The situation in Manipur has reached a critical and irreversible stage. The unchecked influx of illegal immigrants is actively altering the demographic composition of the state, posing a direct threat to the political rights, land ownership, cultural identity, and future of the indigenous people. Any further delay will amount to a systematic erosion of constitutional protections guaranteed to the native population,” it stated.
The ZU (AMN) said the government cannot remain indifferent while the guarantees under Article 14, Article 21, and Article 29 of the Constitution of India are “steadily undermined.” It noted that under Article 355, the Union Government has a constitutional obligation to protect the state from external aggression and internal disturbances. Continued inaction on illegal immigration represents a serious failure in discharging this constitutional duty, it said.
The union said that ground realities in districts such as Kangpokpi, Churachandpur, Chandel, Tengnoupal, and Pherzawl “reveal deeply disturbing trends.” “There has been an abnormal and disproportionate increase in the number of villages and population, alongside the rapid mushrooming of new settlements over a short span of time. These developments raise serious and legitimate concerns regarding the authenticity of demographic changes and indicate the urgent need for a comprehensive mechanism and transparent verification of authentic indigenous communities of Manipur,” it said.
The ZU (AMN) stated that such unchecked expansion has begun to strain traditional land systems, disrupt ecological balance, and intensify social tensions among communities. “The absence of NRC has allowed these patterns to continue without scrutiny, creating a demographic imbalance that threatens the very existence of indigenous communities,” it added.
The union asserted that conducting the census without first implementing NRC based on the 1951 base year will “effectively legitimize illegal immigrants, permanently distorting population data and electoral representation. This would amount to institutionalizing demographic injustice and undermining the democratic rights of the indigenous people.”
While the ILP system exists, the union said that it remains insufficient in the absence of a verified citizen registry. Without clearly identifying genuine citizens, regulatory mechanisms cannot function effectively, it said.
It demanded immediate initiation and time-bound implementation of NRC in Manipur using 1951 as the base year; completion of NRC prior to the incoming Census of India; a comprehensive audit and verification of abnormal village expansion and population growth in Kangpokpi, Churachandpur, Chandel, Tengnoupal, and Pherzawl districts; strengthening of border security with strict enforcement measures against illegal infiltration; and identification and lawful deportation of illegal immigrants in accordance with due process of law.
