Guwahati: Manipur’s valley districts remained virtually paralysed on Tuesday as shutdowns and strikes demanding a clear NRC roadmap before the census brought commercial activity, public transport, education and movement of goods to a near standstill even after the Centre on Monday announced its decision to defer the population count exercise in the state.The 24-hour statewide general strike called by the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD) began at midnight and hit the five valley districts of Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Kakching. Shops, markets and commercial establishments remained closed, schools and colleges did not open, govt offices recorded poor attendance, and public transport services, including e-rickshaws and inter-district buses, were largely suspended.The JFD said the Centre’s decision does not meet its principal demand for a clear assurance on NRC before any population enumeration.Manipur High Court has also directed that the census process in the state remain deferred until further orders till the next hearing date on October 12, while hearing petitions on the NRC and illegal migration.The demand for NRC implementation stemmed from the apprehension of the Meitei and Naga communities that a census without NRC could result in “demographic changes” in the state due to the alleged entry of illegal immigrants from neighbouring Myanmar, who have ethnic ties with the Kuki people.At Khwairamband Keithel, the state’s principal commercial hub, women vendors enforcing the bandh took to the streets, staging a sit-in protest at Nupi Keithel with slogans like “no NRC, no census” and “no IDP settlement, no census”.They said the agitation will continue until the govt issues a formal written order stating that the census would be conducted only after the National Register of Citizens (NRC) was updated with 1951 as the base year.CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh returned to the state after meeting home minister Amit Shah where the decision was taken to defer the census houselisting exercise scheduled to start from Tuesday.Joining party colleagues at state party headquarters in Imphal on Tuesday, the chief minister appealed to the public and civil society organisations to refrain from imposing bandhs, saying repeated shutdowns disproportionately affect vulnerable sections of society, particularly daily-wage earners and students.He said the state govt was making every possible effort to address issues and concerns raised by the people and urged all stakeholders to cooperate instead of resorting to measures that disrupt normal life.Referring to the deferring of the census operations, he said the state govt had been aware that the exercise would be put off but could not make an announcement earlier. He also highlighted the scheduled visit of Union home minister Amit Shah to Manipur in Oct as significant in the context of the state govt’s efforts, and acknowledged the contribution of MLAs and 14 civil society organisations (CSOs) that travelled to New Delhi to press for implementation of the NRC before the census.In Imphal, a delegation of 14 civil society organisations (CSOs) and community leaders met Union minister of state Ramdas Athawale, reiterating demands for NRC before the census and urging a general amnesty and rehabilitation for youths who allegedly took up arms under pressure during the ongoing crisis.
