Former Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Tuesday said he met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi and raised concerns over economic blockades, disrupted supplies of essential commodities and the demand for the National Register of Citizens (NRC) before any census activity in the state.
Singh, who returned to Imphal after a two-day visit to the national capital, said he told Shah that people were not opposed to the census itself, but wanted the NRC to be carried out first. He also said Shah assured him that the issues related to blockades and supply disruptions would be addressed soon.
“I went to Delhi to meet Home Minister Amit Shah and met him yesterday after getting an appointment. I apprised him of the issues related to economic blockades and counter-blockades, which shot up prices of essential commodities and affected supplies of commodities. Shah assured me of addressing the issues soon,” Singh said.
He said he also informed Shah about the public demand for the “conduct of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) that was taken up by my government in February 2023” before ethnic strife broke out in the state. More than 260 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in clashes between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups since May 2023.
“The Ministry of Home Affairs and the registrar general had then informed that the demand sent by the then government was being considered. I also apprised Shah that people are not against the conduct of census but are demanding NRC first and then conduct of census,” he said.
The demand has also led to protests in the state. Students staged a demonstration outside the Directorate of Census Operations in Imphal on Sunday, seeking implementation of the NRC in Manipur before the census, following which police fired tear gas shells to disperse them. On the evening of August 16, hundreds of protesters in Imphal East and Imphal West districts held a torch rally with the same demand to identify illegal immigrants.
Singh said people were apprehensive that the “presence of illegal immigrants in the state has affected demographic imbalance”.
He added, “As per the government records, there are 926 unrecognised villages. There is a request to the government for recognition of these villages as well. Shah gave a patient hearing to our concerns. I genuinely believe and feel that there will be a positive response to the demands raised by the people.”
– Ends
Published By:
India Today Web Desk
Published On:
Aug 18, 2026 11:02 IST
