Imphal, August 17: Hundreds of women vendors of Khwairamband Ima Keithel, the historic women-run market in Imphal, staged a sit-in protest on Monday demanding that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) be updated before the Census is conducted in Manipur.
The protest, organised in support of the demand for an NRC exercise prior to the Census, saw a large gathering of women vendors at the market. The protesters also demanded that the issue of internally displaced persons (IDPs) be addressed before the Census exercise is undertaken.
The demonstration forms part of a wider campaign led by the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD) and its student wing, which has been calling for the Census to be deferred until the NRC process is completed.
Speaking at the protest, Ratan Kumar, Organisation Secretary of JFD Manipur, said the organisation had been pursuing the demand for updation of the NRC before the Census since April 8, 2025.
Kumar said the demand was not limited to the organisation but reflected concerns raised by sections of the public. He alleged that repeated appeals to the state and central governments had not received an adequate response, compelling the organisation to intensify its agitation.
He said Monday’s protest at Ima Keithel was aimed at drawing greater attention to the demand and putting pressure on the authorities to take up the issue.
The protest comes amid heightened public debate in Manipur over the proposed Census, NRC updation, the status of internally displaced persons and concerns relating to the state’s territorial and border interests.
