New Delhi: BJP Rajya Sabha MP Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba on Thursday called for the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur to identify and deport illegal immigrants, stressing the need to protect the state from potential demographic imbalances.
Speaking during the Zero Hour in the Upper House, Leishemba highlighted the current law and order situation in Manipur, stating that it would not be appropriate to make any changes to the state’s electoral constituencies at this time.
The BJP MP pointed out an alarming rise in the number of villages in certain districts of Manipur, claiming an “abnormal and illogical increase” in the villages of Kangpokpi, Tengnoupal, Chandel, Churachandpur, and Pherzawl districts from 731 in 1969 to 1,624 in 2024—a staggering 122% increase in just 50 years.
In contrast, Naga-dominated areas saw a much smaller increase of just 9%, with the number of villages rising from 527 to 576 during the same period.
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Leishemba warned that illegal immigrants were infiltrating India’s administration and electoral politics by exploiting the porous Indo-Myanmar border.
He urged the Government of India to first detect and deport these illegal immigrants through NRC, using 1951 as the base year, before considering any changes to the state’s electoral constituencies.
He concluded that implementing the NRC is the only logical solution to prevent demographic imbalances in Manipur, asserting that without such measures, the indigenous population could face significant challenges in their own homeland.
