📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Original: Samudra Bikash Hazarika
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Politics
JFD strike over NRC ahead of Census halts daily life across Manipur
✍️ imphaltimes.com
🗓 19 Aug 2026, 11:36 AM
👁 14
A strike by the JFD over the National Register of Citizens (NRC) has brought normal activities to a standstill in Manipur as the country prepares for the upcoming census.
Manipur witnessed a complete shutdown of routine activities after the JFD launched a strike protesting the National Register of Citizens (NRC) ahead of the scheduled national census. The protest, which began early in the day, quickly spread across major towns, disrupting public transport, market operations and government services. Local authorities reported that roads were blocked and shops remained closed as participants demanded clarification on the NRC process.
The timing of the strike coincides with the government's final preparations for the census, raising concerns about potential delays in data collection. Officials from the state election and census departments have appealed for calm, urging citizens to resume normal life while the issues are addressed through dialogue.
No injuries or arrests have been reported so far, but police presence has increased in key areas to maintain order. The JFD has called for a meeting with state officials to discuss its demands, emphasizing that the NRC's implementation must be transparent and inclusive before the census proceeds.
As the standstill continues, residents are coping with limited access to essential services, and businesses report losses due to the prolonged disruption. The situation remains fluid, with both sides indicating a willingness to negotiate if the government provides a clear roadmap for the NRC.
The strike underscores the heightened sensitivity surrounding the NRC and its impact on demographic exercises such as the census, especially in the northeastern states where identity and citizenship issues remain politically charged.
The timing of the strike coincides with the government's final preparations for the census, raising concerns about potential delays in data collection. Officials from the state election and census departments have appealed for calm, urging citizens to resume normal life while the issues are addressed through dialogue.
No injuries or arrests have been reported so far, but police presence has increased in key areas to maintain order. The JFD has called for a meeting with state officials to discuss its demands, emphasizing that the NRC's implementation must be transparent and inclusive before the census proceeds.
As the standstill continues, residents are coping with limited access to essential services, and businesses report losses due to the prolonged disruption. The situation remains fluid, with both sides indicating a willingness to negotiate if the government provides a clear roadmap for the NRC.
The strike underscores the heightened sensitivity surrounding the NRC and its impact on demographic exercises such as the census, especially in the northeastern states where identity and citizenship issues remain politically charged.