The Opposition Congress in Manipur has strongly criticized Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh for causing confusion among the public by linking the National Register of Citizens exercise to the Census. Pradesh Congress Committee Vice-President Hareshwar Goswami condemned the Chief Minister’s remarks as misleading, clarifying that the Census is not a prerequisite for updating the National Register of Citizens. He emphasized that both processes are governed by separate legal frameworks and authorities.
Coming down heavily on the Chief Minister, the senior Congress leader stated that individuals in high public offices should avoid making statements that could misinform citizens on important policy matters. Referring to the experience of Assam, Goswami highlighted that a fresh Census is not mandatory for updating the National Register of Citizens and alleged inconsistency within the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party on the issue. The state Congress Vice-President also pointed out contrasting statements made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Modi regarding the nationwide update of the National Register of Citizens.
The Opposition Congress in Manipur has called for deferring the upcoming Census exercise in the state until normalcy is fully restored. The party insisted that the process should be postponed to allow all Internally Displaced Persons affected by ethnic violence to return to their native places. Manipur Congress President Okram Ibobi Singh, in a memorandum to Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, highlighted prevailing law-and-order concerns and urged the government to expedite the investigation into recent violent incidents, including the killing of two minor children in Tronglaobi village.
