04/09/2026
Reply to statement of MLA Paolienlal Haokip on NRC and Tribal Representation.
We have seen the statement of MLA Paolienlal Haokip where he questioned the NRC and spoke about tribal representation.
We want to make our stand very clear. We are not against more representation for tribal people. If the population has increased because of real and original citizens of India, we have no complaint at all. We will support it.
But our question is, why don't you agree to identify who is the original citizen of India? This is the main problem. If we don't know who is a genuine citizen, how can we decide about representation?
NRC is not to divert any issue. NRC is the base. Without NRC, all population data and representation will be wrong and it will be injustice to the indigenous people.
Our stand is very firm. We will never allow or accept illegal immigrants or foreigner drug mafia as citizens of Manipur, India, till our last breath.
We appeal to all indigenous people of Manipur to stay united on this issue. This is not about politics. This is about the life and death of the future of all indigenous people of Manipur. Identifying illegal immigrants is for the safety of everyone. Let us be united for NRC first.
With regards,
Lenin Hirom
Convenor, AKRUCO
Manipur MLA Paolienlal Haokip Questions NRC Focus, Raises Tribal Representation Issue
Saikot MLA Paolienlal Haokip has questioned the Manipur Assembly’s focus on updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC), arguing that the issue of proportionate tribal representation based on the 2001 Census deserves greater attention.
In a social media post on Wednesday, Haokip alleged that the NRC debate was being used to divert attention from what he described as a longstanding political issue concerning tribal representation. His remarks came shortly after the Assembly adopted a resolution urging the Centre to update the NRC before conducting the Census.
The statement adds to the ongoing political debate in Manipur over the NRC, census data and representation of tribal communities.