Amid protests over NRC, Manipur shuts schools and colleges

Starting Thursday, schools and colleges in Manipur will close for three days due to the current law and order situation surrounding the National Register of Citizens (NRC). This decision follows increased tensions over the ongoing agitation demanding the implementation of the NRC. The agitation is being led by Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD), which announced a boycott of all government offices on Wednesday.

However, JFD convener Jitendra Ningomba clarified that this boycott would not affect essential services like healthcare, water supply, electricity, and education. Ningomba also called for torch rallies, encouraging widespread participation in support of the cause.

In response to the protests, Manipur Chief Minister Y. Khemchand Singh met with a delegation of students from 10 schools and colleges on Thursday. The students presented a list of demands, which included the implementation of NRC in Manipur before the Census to identify illegal immigrants, the reopening of educational institutions, and requesting that the issue be discussed in the legislative assembly.

Chief Minister Khemchand reassured the students that the state government would bring up the NRC implementation in the upcoming Assembly session, which is set to start on September 2. Additionally, he affirmed that the government supports the implementation of NRC in the state, but emphasized that two key issues needed to be addressed - the manner in which NRC will be implemented and ensuring its error-free implementation.