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A large number of Meira Paibi (women torchbearers) activists carried out a massive torch rally along Tiddim Road on Sunday night, continuing to ask for an update to the National Register of Citizens (NRC) before the census exercise.
The rally was organised by the Campaign for Justice and Fair Delimitation (JFD) and commenced from Kwakeithel Nganapithong and proceeded along the Tiddim line under heavy police protection before marching towards Keishamthong via Mayai Lambi and the Keishampat traffic junction. Many Meira Paibi activists along the Tiddim Road joined the rally, chanting slogans such as 'No NRC, No Census' and 'No IDP settlement, no Census'. On August 20, people also held protests in Imphal under the call of the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD), demanding the conduct and updating of the NRC before the Census exercise. Police put up barricades to control the crowd during the protest. A protester highlighted the group's concerns over the Census and NRC process, saying, "We had urged the state government to not conduct a census, as the condition of the state is not good. The government had a press briefing saying that some MLAs will meet with the centre, but it does not work this way. We don't have a problem with the census, but first NRC should be conducted, and the outsiders should be ousted. The government is there for the protection of life, property." Earlier, on August 16, the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD) had also intensified its protests across key areas of Manipur, demanding an update of the NRC before the Census. As part of the agitation, torch rallies were held at several locations across the state. Following the JFD's appeal urging people to march to the offices of Deputy Commissioners and press the government to defer the Census exercise, demonstrative marches were held along Uripok-Kangchup Road, Tiddim Road, Kongba Road, and Khurai-Lamlong. During the demonstrations, protesters raised slogans stating that the Census exercise should not be conducted until the NRC is updated and internally displaced persons (IDPs) are resettled. The decision to intensify the protests was taken after consultations with leaders of various organisations, including Meira Paibi groups. (ANI)
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