The decision to implement National Register of Citizens (NRC) is a key issue projected by the BJP-led government in Manipur over and above the suspension of Free Movement Regime (FMR) and commitment to undertake border fencing of the entire stretch of Indo-Myanmar boundary. So, one did wonder why BJP chose to skirt the issue of NRC in its manifesto released on Sunday.
Chief Minister N Biren Singh had said that he will send a recommendation to the Centre for implementing the National Register for Citizens (NRC) in the state as his government cannot do it alone. His statement came a few days after the state assembly passed a resolution urging the central government to implement the NRC in the state “in the interest of the state in particular and of the nation in general”. He also said that the state alone cannot implement it (NRC). We have made a resolution in the House. So, the need for sending a recommendation to the Central government.
However, the base year will be 1961 while the demand by frontline CSOs was 1951 as the base year. The state cabinet in 2022 also adopted 1961 as the base for identifying illegal immigration in the state for the implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) which was introduced in the state in December 2019 and came into effect in January 2020. Defending the 1961 base year the chief minister did say that one has to take into consideration the views of all stakeholders. That was where he faltered in taking the right decision due to extraneous political pressure.
Indeed, the Kuki-Zo politicians and leaders were even against 1961 as the proposed base year for either ILP or NRC. One must also acknowledge that both the Nagas and Kuki-Zos had become powerful lobbies since 2017 who came to dictate terms to both Centre and the state. The concessions extracted by the newly formed BJP government in lieu of the lifting of the 139-day economic blockade by UNC regarding newly created districts and 600-day shutdown of Churachandpur district regarding the 3 contentious bills might have made it possible.
Sadly, the much-touted NRC did not find a mention in the manifesto released by BJP supremo and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. One recalls state BJP leaders and their cohorts accusing the Congress MLAs of a walk-out during the passing of the NRC resolution, while the actual cause of walkout was against denial of a proper discussion. On Sunday Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while releasing the manifesto, made a pitch for electing a strong and stable government in an uncertain world beset by geopolitical tensions prioritising development and welfare. Yet it shunned populist measures and contentious issues like the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
While there are several objections to NRC in other areas of the country, it was very much welcomed here as it is going to serve as the basis of all population analysis, demographic changes, illegal entry of foreigners and aliens. The BJP government had even established the State Population Commission although its actual work is yet to commence.
As regards steps towards implementation of National Register of Citizens (NRC), nothing concrete had been spelt out. In fact, NRC was one of the most important focal points of the agreements signed between the state government and AMSU in 1980 and 1994 with regard to identification of illegal immigrants.
The Census Reports of 1951, NRC 1951 and Village Directory 1951 were to be the basis of the quest. NTC 1951 is a register prepared after the conduct of the Census of 1951 in respect of each village, showing the houses or holdings in a serial order and indicating against each house or holding the number and names of persons staying therein. These registers covered each and every person enumerated during the Census of 1951 and were kept in the offices of the then Assam Deputy Commissioners and Sub Divisional Officers according to instructions issued by the Government of India in 1951. These records are yet to be traced as of now and no effort is seen to trace them as yet.
