The Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) appealed to the Centre to postpone the upcoming census in Manipur, arguing that the ongoing unrest and large-scale displacement would undermine the accuracy of the exercise. Speaking at a press conference held at Congress Bhawan, former Chief Minister and MPCC President Okram Ibobi Singh emphasized that the census is a vital national process and must yield precise and dependable data. He cautioned that any inaccuracies could negatively affect policymaking, development planning, and governance for years. Drawing attention to previous census operations, Ibobi highlighted concerns over discrepancies in the 2001 population data, alleging that certain districts recorded unusually high growth rates compared to the national average. He stated that such irregularities had led to imbalances in delimitation, which the Congress had opposed at the time.
Addressing the present situation, he noted that the displacement of thousands of people across the state poses a major challenge to conducting a fair and accurate enumeration. With many internally displaced persons currently residing in relief camps, he said the process would fail to reflect the true population distribution. He added that over 50,000 individuals have been affected, complicating the scenario further.
Ibobi also raised the issue of refugees from Myanmar, stating that their presence could further distort census figures unless proper identification measures are implemented. He suggested that the exercise should only be carried out after displaced residents are resettled and illegal immigrants are identified and deported.
Warning against proceeding with delimitation under the current circumstances, he stressed that such steps must be based on reliable census data. “The census should be deferred until normalcy is restored and people return to their homes,” he asserted. On the matter of the National Register of Citizens, Ibobi clarified that Congress supports the identification of illegal immigrants, while accusing the BJP of maintaining an inconsistent stance on the issue. He also called for collective political engagement, expressing openness to all-party discussions and joint efforts to take up the matter with the Centre.
Commenting on the visit of Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand to Jiribam, Ibobi remarked that free movement across all parts of the state is essential in a functioning democracy, even in sensitive regions.
The press briefing was attended by Inner Manipur MP Bimol Akoijam along with Congress MLAs and senior party leaders.
