Manipur CM Y. Khemchand Singh and Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma welcomed the Centre’s High-Level Committee on demographic change.
Imphal, May 27: Yumnam Khemchand Singh and Himanta Biswa Sarma have welcomed the Union Government’s decision to constitute a High-Level Committee to study demographic change in the country, describing the initiative as a significant step towards addressing concerns related to illegal immigration, national security and the protection of indigenous communities.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Manipur Chief Minister Khemchand Singh expressed appreciation to the Union Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for constituting the committee, which will examine demographic changes occurring across India due to illegal immigration and other abnormal reasons.
He described the Prime Minister’s announcement of a “High-powered Demography Mission” during the Independence Day address on August 15, 2025, followed by the Union Cabinet’s approval on September 11, 2025, as a “historic and long-awaited intervention” for Manipur and other border states.
The Chief Minister also welcomed remarks made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who had stated that demographic change was linked not only to sovereignty and national security but also to law and order, social structure and the protection of tribal societies.
Khemchand said the Government of Manipur would extend full cooperation to the committee in carrying out a comprehensive assessment of demographic changes across the country. He further stated that the people of Manipur were grateful to the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister for what he described as their commitment towards safeguarding India’s borders and checking demographic imbalance.
Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also strongly endorsed the Centre’s move in a post on X. Sarma stated that illegal infiltration and unusual demographic change were not issues confined to a single state but concerns directly linked to India’s national security, cultural identity and social balance.
Calling the formation of the committee a “visionary and decisive step,” the Assam Chief Minister said the panel, functioning under the leadership of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, would study demographic changes across the country and recommend concrete solutions. He said the initiative would strengthen national security while helping address the concerns of border regions.
Referring specifically to Assam, Sarma said the state had long faced challenges arising out of demographic change and asserted that the committee’s work would be important for protecting indigenous rights, tribal societies and cultural heritage.
“We are confident that this committee will play a significant role in securing India’s future,” he said in the social media post.
According to the official announcement, the High-Level Committee will be headed by retired judge Justice Prakash Prabhakar Naolekar. Apart from the Census Commissioner, the committee will include retired IAS officer Durga Shankar Mishra, retired IPS officer Balaji Srivastava and economist Shamika Ravi as members. The Joint Secretary (Foreigners-I) in the Ministry of Home Affairs will serve as the Member Secretary of the committee.
Officials said the panel has been asked to submit its report within one year, although the Ministry of Home Affairs may extend the tenure by up to six months if required.
The formation of the committee comes amid continuing political debate in several northeastern states over illegal immigration, demographic changes and the protection of indigenous communities and tribal societies.
