JFD Announces Government Office Boycott in Manipur from August 20 Over NRC Demand
The Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD) has announced a boycott of all state and central government offices in Manipur from August 20 as part of its ongoing agitation demanding updation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) before the Census.
The announcement was made during a press conference at the JFD office in Wangkhei, Imphal East, on Wednesday.
JFD convenor Jeetendra Ningomba said the organisation’s 48-hour general strike, which began at midnight on August 17, would conclude at midnight between August 19 and 20. However, he said the campaign would continue through different forms of protest until the demand for NRC updation before the Census is addressed.
As part of the next phase, the JFD will boycott state and central government offices across Manipur from August 20. Ningomba clarified that health, education, electricity and water supply services would remain exempt from the boycott.
The organisation also announced plans for further democratic protests at regular intervals. Ningomba appealed to people across the state to organise torch rallies every night and conduct protest meetings and awareness programmes focusing on NRC, delimitation and the Census.
He further urged local clubs and Meira Paibi groups to meet their respective MLAs and seek clarification on their positions regarding NRC updation.
Reacting to reports that NDA legislators from Manipur would travel to Delhi to seek support for NRC updation, Ningomba said the JFD had learned about the proposed visit through media reports.
He questioned the lack of clarity over whom the legislators would meet, where the discussions would take place and what issues would be raised. He said the JFD would have preferred the state government to take a formal Cabinet decision and approach central leaders with a written proposal seeking intervention.
Ningomba appealed to people from all communities and sections of society to support the campaign, saying the agitation would continue until the demand for NRC updation before the Census is fulfilled.
He also thanked the people of Manipur for supporting the 48-hour general strike, which the organisation described as successful.
The latest announcement marks another escalation in the JFD’s campaign, with NRC updation before the Census and delimitation remaining at the centre of its demands.
