The Manipur government on Thursday ordered the closure of educational institutions for three days amid growing tensions over demands to postpone the Census in the ethnic violence-hit state until the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), with 1951 as the base year.
The Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD), a local organisation, called for a two-day bandh beginning Tuesday and announced a boycott of central and state government institutions from Thursday in support of the demand for NRC.
A 10-member delegation representing Manipur’s different communities and civil organisations departed for Delhi on Thursday to press the central government for NRC.
We will take the matter to Union ministers, BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party] leaders…[other] officials,” said a member of the delegation before departing from the Imphal airport.
“The people are demanding NRC before the Census, which precedes the pending delimitation in Manipur.
There has been growing opposition to Census-related activities in the state. A training programme for Census personnel was disrupted in Bishnupur district on August 14.
