No NRC, No Delimitation: COCOMI Opposes Delimitation Before NRC Implementation in Manipur

Imphal, March 21: The Coordinating Committee on Manipur’s Integrity (COCOMI) has strongly opposed the central government’s move to conduct the delimitation exercise in Manipur before implementing the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The committee insists that delimitation, if carried out without first identifying and deporting illegal immigrants, will be unjust and detrimental to the rights of indigenous communities.

COCOMI spokesperson Khuraijam Athouba accused the Government of India of neglecting the root cause of Manipur’s prolonged crisis, alleging that the authorities have allowed the issue to escalate instead of taking corrective measures. He emphasized that delimitation without NRC would empower encroachers while further marginalizing indigenous people.

The opposition from COCOMI comes in response to the Supreme Court’s recent directive, which granted the Centre three months to complete the delimitation process in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Manipur. The committee argues that such a move, without first addressing the issue of illegal immigration, will lead to demographic distortions and political imbalances similar to those seen in Assam.

Athouba highlighted alarming findings of over 67,000 bogus voters detected in just two constituencies in Manipur, calling it clear evidence of demographic manipulation. He warned that if illegal immigrants are not identified and removed first, the delimitation process will only worsen the political and social landscape in the state.

COCOMI has urged the government to prioritize the identification, detection, and deportation of illegal immigrants before moving forward with delimitation. The committee reiterated its commitment to safeguarding indigenous rights and vowed to continue advocating for the implementation of NRC before any electoral boundary changes take place.