Apprised Amit Shah of Manipur people’s demand for NRC before census: Biren Singh

Former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Tuesday (August 18, 2026) said he has held a gathering with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and apprised him of the people’s demand for NRC before the conduct of any census activity in the State.

Mr. Singh, who returned to Imphal this morning (August 18) after a two-day visit to New Delhi, said he additionally raised the issues of economic blockades resulting in the disruption of supplies of essential commodities and an rise in prices.

“I went to Delhi to meet Home Minister Amit Shah and met him yesterday (August 17) after getting an appointment. I apprised him of the issues related to economic blockades and counter-blockades. It shot up costs of essential commodities and affected supplies of commodities. Mr. Shah assured me of addressing the issues shortly,” Mr. Singh said.

Mr. Singh said he informed Mr. Shah about the people’s appeal for the “conduct of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) that was taken up by my government in February 2023” before the ethnic strife broke out in the state.

More than 260 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic strife between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups since May 2023.

“The Ministry of Home Affairs and the Registrar General had then informed that the demand sent by the then government was being considered. I also apprised Shah that residents are not against the conduct of census but are demanding NRC first and then conduct of census,” he said.

Students, demanding implementation of the NRC in Manipur before the census, staged a demonstration outside the Directorate of Census Operations on Sunday (August 16), prompting the police to fire tear gas shells to disperse them.