Imphal: Transport, business and other daily activities were disrupted across Manipur on Tuesday as a 48-hour strike over the NRC-before-Census demand continued, even as NDA MLAs from Manipur announced plans to visit New Delhi to take the issue up with Centre.Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD) called the strike to press for updating National Register of Citizens (NRC) before Census.Manipur govt spokesperson and BJP MLA Sapam Ranjan Singh said an NDA legislators’ delegation would visit New Delhi on Wednesday to pursue the issue with central leaders.At a media interaction, Singh said state govt remained concerned about demographic changes, demographic imbalance and illegal migration. He said Manipur assembly adopted resolutions seeking an NRC exercise in the state on Aug 5, 2022, and reaffirmed them on March 1, 2024. Govt has since pursued the matter with Union home ministry, he said.Singh said govt acknowledged the demand from civil society organisations and sections of the public that NRC updation should precede Census.“The issue should be addressed collectively,” he said, urging that it not be viewed through political, community or religious differences. He appealed to protesters to maintain peace and avoid violence or disruptions that could affect the public, students and livelihoods.The general strike affected normal activities in several parts of the state, with disruptions reported to transportation, businesses and other day-to-day activities.Former chief minister N Biren Singh, who met Union home minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Monday, said he discussed the NRC demand, the situation in Manipur and the ongoing economic blockade. He said the demand was for NRC to be updated before Census, not against Census itself, and expressed confidence that Centre would consider it.
