Guwahati: A huge protest in underway in Imphal of Manipur for the creation of a Population Commission and the implementation of the National Registration of Citizens (NRC).
The police were forced to use lathi charges after a few attempted to break into CM N Biren Singh’s home and march to the Raj Bhawan.
The unnatural increase in population in steep areas, the mushrooming of communities, the growing of poppies and the invasion of reserve forest areas have all drawn the attention of student organisations in the state.
The student bodies claim that Manipur’s identity, culture, economics, government and environment have all been significantly impacted by the migration of outsiders from both inside and beyond the nation.
They have asked the government to take action to find, remove and deport illegal immigrants, particularly those from Bangladesh, Myanmar and Nepal. The state administration has been urged by the student groups to put pressure on the federal government to implement the National Registration of Citizenship in Manipur.
“We are not against any community or religion, but we want to protect our land, environment, and indigenous communities from the adverse effects of illegal settlements,” said a spokesperson for the student bodies. “We urge the authorities to evict and remove settlements in reserved forest areas, which are crucial for the protection of flora and fauna.”
Also, the student bodies have drawn attention to the artificial population expansion in hilly regions where the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act is in effect which poses a serious threat to the state’s indigenous communities. To keep out foreigners, they have demanded the creation of a population commission and the adoption of NRC.