Manipur bandh disrupts life despite Centre deferring Census amid NRC updation demand
A 24-hour strike over NRC updation disrupted normal life across Manipur's valley districts. The shutdown persisted despite the Centre deferring the census, highlighting deep public mistrust.
A 24-hour strike called by the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation, which is demanding updation of the National Register of Citizens before the Census, disrupted normal life in at least five valley districts of Manipur on Tuesday. Markets and business establishments were shut, educational institutions remained closed and most roads wore a deserted look.
The strike continued even after the Centre deferred the census exercise in Manipur on Monday following demands raised by civil society organisations. The group said it would go ahead with the bandh as there was no official order on the deferment, while state Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam appealed to it to call off the protest.
The census exercise in the state had been scheduled to begin from September 1. Officials said the 24-hour general strike for NRC updation paralysed normal life in at least five valley districts on Tuesday morning.
Public transport remained off the roads in Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Kakching districts, though a few private vehicles were seen on the streets. At Yairipok in Thoubal district, bandh supporters put up bamboo poles in the middle of roads to block traffic movement.
On Monday evening, the Chief Minister's Secretariat said the census had been deferred in the state after a high-level review meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi. According to the statement, the decision to put the exercise on hold was taken after assessing the current situation in Manipur.
The statement said the demand raised by the people of Manipur to defer the census exercise before implementation of the NRC was discussed at the meeting. Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Chief Minister N Biren Singh, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan and other senior officials attended it.
Singh expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah for listening to the voices of the people and fulfilling the aspirations of the state's people. He also thanked BJP president Nitin Nabin for his continuous support in fulfilling the wishes of the people of Manipur, the statement said.