IMPHAL: Normal life was disrupted across Manipur on Tuesday, September 1, as the Campaign for Justice and Fair Delimitation (JFD) enforced a 24-hour general strike demanding implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) before the Census and delimitation exercises in the state.
Business establishments, public transport and vehicular movement were affected in several areas, with protesters blocking roads and restricting the movement of vehicles except those providing essential and emergency services. Women vendors at Khwairamband Ima Market also supported the agitation.
The Manipur government had appealed to the JFD to withdraw the shutdown after the Centre announced that the Census process in the state had been deferred. The organisation, however, proceeded with the strike, maintaining that the deferment should be formally notified through a gazette notification by the Registrar General of India.
The JFD said the NRC should be implemented before the Census to address concerns over the alleged presence of illegal immigrants and protect the interests of indigenous people.
The agitation came a day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a meeting at the Ministry of Home Affairs to review the situation in Manipur and discuss the demand for deferment of the Census. Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan and other senior officials attended the meeting.
Following the meeting, the deferment of the Census process in Manipur was announced.
Separately, the High Court of Manipur has directed that the Census process be withheld in the state.
