Former Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh seeks deferment of Manipur Census house listing over displacement and says he is hopeful that NRC will be implemented before Census.
Imphal, Aug 18: Former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking deferment of the Census 2027 house-listing exercise in Manipur, citing the continuing displacement and incomplete rehabilitation in the state, while expressing hope that the Centre will consider implementing the National Register of Citizens (NRC) before the Census.
Biren Singh made the remarks after returning to Imphal from New Delhi on Tuesday morning, where he had met Shah on Monday evening. Speaking to media persons at Imphal Airport, he said he discussed the NRC demand, the Census schedule, the impact of displacement and the ongoing blockades and counter-blockades on national highways.
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The former Chief Minister said the demand for conducting the NRC before the Census was clearly placed before the Union Home Minister. He expressed hope that the Centre would take the demand into consideration and implement the NRC in Manipur before proceeding with the Census.
His remarks came after he submitted a written representation to Shah on August 15, specifically seeking reconsideration and deferment of the Census 2027 schedule in Manipur.
Letter seeks deferment of Census house listing
In his letter, Biren Singh noted that self-enumeration was scheduled from August 17 to 31, 2026, while house-listing operations were scheduled from September 1 to 30.
He argued that the prevailing situation in Manipur could make it difficult for the exercise to accurately reflect the actual residential and demographic situation of the state.
A large number of people remain displaced from their original homes following the ethnic conflict that began in May 2023, he noted. According to Biren Singh, the return, rehabilitation and resettlement process remains incomplete, with many families still unable to return to their original places of residence.
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He pointed out that houses in several areas remain burnt or completely destroyed, while others are still being reconstructed.
The former Chief Minister argued that a displaced family's current residence, original home and eventual place of resettlement could all be different. As a result, conducting house listing at the present stage could record a temporary situation created by displacement rather than the settled residential pattern of the state.
He clarified that the concern was not whether displaced people should be counted.
“Every citizen must be counted,” he stated in the representation, while arguing that the issue was whether the current circumstances could provide an accurate picture of households, houses and settlements in Manipur.
Rehabilitation remains incomplete, letter says
Biren Singh's letter referred to assistance provided by the Government of India for rehabilitation and reconstruction in the state.
He stated that during the financial year 2025-26, with assistance from the Ministry of Home Affairs, support had been provided for reconstruction of 7,000 houses, 8,000 partially damaged houses and 7,000 completely burnt houses. He also referred to support for community facilities in newly established settlements and villages.
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According to Biren Singh, the ongoing reconstruction work demonstrates that rehabilitation and resettlement remain in progress.
The letter noted that people from different communities continue to live away from their original homes. It referred to Kuki people displaced from Imphal and surrounding areas who are residing in Kangpokpi, Churachandpur and other places, as well as Meitei people displaced from Churachandpur, Moreh and other areas who are currently living in Imphal and other parts of the valley.
Members of other communities have also been affected by the conflict, he stated.
Biren says NRC should precede Census
During his interaction with the media, Biren Singh reiterated that the demand for NRC before the Census should not be viewed as opposition to the Census.
He explained that the demand was to first identify people who had allegedly entered Manipur illegally and then undertake population enumeration.
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He expressed concern that conducting the Census without addressing the NRC issue could affect the demographic profile of the state.
Biren Singh also referred to state government records and claimed that more than 926 unrecognised villages have emerged in various hill areas. He said there had been several requests seeking recognition of these newly established villages.
The issue, he said, was also raised during his meeting with Shah.
Earlier state decisions on NRC recalled
Biren Singh said the state government had taken steps towards NRC implementation before the ethnic conflict.
He stated that the state Cabinet had resolved to implement the NRC and that, following a decision of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, a written representation was sent to the concerned ministry at the Centre.
According to him, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Registrar General subsequently informed the state government that the proposal submitted by Manipur was under consideration. The Centre had also indicated that a policy decision on nationwide implementation of the NRC had not yet been finalised.
Biren Singh said he reminded Shah of the issue during their latest meeting.
He expressed hope that the Centre would respond positively to the longstanding demand and reiterated that the demand for NRC before the Census was being raised by civil society organisations and sections of the public across the state.
Seeks revised Census schedule
In his August 15 letter, Biren Singh acknowledged that the Census Act, 1948, empowers the Central government to conduct the Census and determine its procedure and timing.
He clarified that his representation did not question the national importance of the Census. Instead, he urged the Centre to consider the exceptional circumstances prevailing in Manipur while deciding the schedule.
He argued that allowing additional time for rehabilitation, reconstruction, return and resettlement could help ensure that the Census more accurately reflects the residential situation of all communities.
The former Chief Minister maintained that such deferment would not exclude or disadvantage any community. Rather, he argued, it would help ensure that members of the Meitei, Kuki, Naga and other communities, including displaced people, are recorded according to their actual residential circumstances.
He requested Shah to reconsider and defer the existing schedule for self-enumeration and house listing until sufficient progress had been made in rehabilitation, return and resettlement and greater stability had been restored.
He also urged the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India to consult the Manipur government and determine an appropriate revised schedule based on the prevailing ground situation.
Appeals for restraint during NRC protests
Biren Singh also referred to the ongoing protests and the 48-hour general strike launched by civil society organisations over the NRC demand.
He said the issue of student protests, including incidents in which several students were injured, was also brought to the attention of the Union Home Minister.
While expressing hope that the Centre would consider the NRC demand, Biren Singh appealed to protesters to avoid extreme actions.
He maintained that the demand should be pursued collectively and without differences based on political parties, communities or religions.
The former Chief Minister also raised the impact of the ongoing blockades and counter-blockades on national highways with Shah, including the resulting increase in prices of essential commodities.
He said the issue of disruptions affecting the public was discussed during the meeting and expressed hope that a solution would be found.
