Guwahati: Amid protests in parts of Manipur demanding that NRC be updated before Census, state govt on Sunday appealed to people not to disrupt the functioning of govt offices.Govt spokespersons and MLAs Thokchom Radheshyam Singh and Sapam Ranjan Singh, speaking at a news conference in Imphal, urged the Campaign for Justice and Fair Delimitation (JDF) to withdraw its agitation. The organisation has demanded the closure of central and state govt offices in connection with the updating of NRC, with 1951 as the base year.The spokespersons appealed to all concerned “not to add more misery to the sufferings and inconveniences of the public”.Radheshyam Singh said state govt was aware of the organisation’s demand and that people in Manipur also wanted NRC to be conducted before Census.He said the eighth session of the 12th Manipur legislative assembly had reaffirmed its earlier resolution to conduct NRC before Census. CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh had conveyed the decision to Centre, he said.“On the last day of the recently concluded assembly session, a discussion regarding 1951 as the base year for the NRC took place in the House, and the matter has already been conveyed to the Union home ministry,” Radheshyam Singh said.He said the CM had conveyed the “people’s desire” to Centre following a campaign by MLAs in New Delhi. Union home ministry subsequently postponed the Census process in Manipur, he said.Against this backdrop, Radheshyam Singh said the JDF had launched its agitation by calling for the closure of govt offices. He warned that such protests could trigger undesirable incidents and disrupt the functioning of state govt.Manipur home minister Govindas Konthoujam and several MLAs have been in New Delhi for the past few days to press Centre to conduct NRC with 1951 as the base year, the spokespersons said. They expressed hope that Centre would act in line with the “people’s wishes”.Radheshyam Singh appealed to all sections of society “to give peace a chance in Manipur” and support the govt’s efforts to restore normalcy in the state.
