Congress Legislature Party leader Keisham Meghachandra Singh on Wednesday urged the Manipur Assembly to adopt a resolution to defer the census in the restive state till normalcy is restored. Meghachandra told the House that conducting a headcount “without the resettlement and rehabilitation of displaced families and without identifying illegal immigrants would not reflect a true demographic reality in Manipur.”
“I would like to state that the census be deferred until proper resettlement and verification processes are ensured,” the opposition leader said in the House. The Congress leader also appealed to the state government to defer the census via a cabinet decision.
“As many displaced people are not staying in their homes, the conduct of a census would lead to inconveniences to people in the state. We believe that now, there cannot be a true census. The people also want a deferment of the exercise,” Singh said.
During the April-September period, a housing census is to be taken up, he said. “The number of houses is to be counted as part of this exercise. How would the houses of those displaced persons be listed during the exercise?” he asked. More than 260 people have been killed in Manipur and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups since May 2023.
The Wangkhem constituency legislator also said the second phase of the census would be done in February-March 2027, when the actual number of the population would be counted. “The problem we would be dealing with is not just for one community but for all communities. Therefore, I called for deferment of the census by way of a resolution in the House or by a cabinet decision.” Chief Minister Y. Khemchand Singh told the assembly that after the special intensive revision of electoral rolls and completion of house listing, the census would be conducted. “It will take time,” he added.
