Former Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh on Tuesday said Union Home Minister Amit Shah had given a “positive response” to his demand for updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state before the Census.
Speaking to reporters at Imphal airport after returning from New Delhi, Singh said he met Shah to discuss the situation in Manipur, including NRC updation, the ongoing economic blockade and counter-blockade, which he said had pushed up prices of essential commodities.
Singh said Shah heard the issues with “deep concern and patience” and indicated that positive steps could be considered. He said he also referred to the Manipur government’s 2023 Cabinet decision and a 2024 Assembly resolution on updating the NRC.
Describing illegal immigration as a serious concern, Singh claimed that 9,026 unauthorised villages had been detected so far. He said updating the NRC before the Census was a demand of Manipur’s indigenous people.
Singh urged people to pursue the demand peacefully and expressed hope that the Centre would take positive steps on NRC updation before the Census.
