Silchar: The implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam may be the underlying cause of the conflict in Manipur, claims Biswadeep Gupta, President of the Barak-Manipur Friendship Association (BMFA). Gupta suggested that those facing the loss of Indian citizenship may have conspired against the country. He expressed these views while delivering the keynote address at the Peace Convention held on September 28 at Rajiv Bhawan, Silchar. The event, organized by the Knowledge Resource Centre Foundation, was titled “Manipur Conflict: Consequences for Northeast India and the Nation.”
Gupta, a journalist in Manipur, shared that over the past sixteen months, he has encountered multiple perspectives on the conflict, prompting him to dig deeper into its root causes. According to the central government, the demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status by the Meitei community is the main trigger, as stated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a press conference in Imphal. The state government, on the other hand, attributes the unrest to an eviction drive from reserved forest areas, poppy cultivation, and illegal immigration—first highlighted by Chief Minister N. Biren Singh in his 2023 Independence Day speech.
However, Gupta believes the real cause lies in the NRC process itself. Drawing from his experience as an Assamese citizen, he explained that the NRC is about verifying legacy data to confirm that an individual’s ancestors were present in India. Modern identity documents such as voter ID or Aadhaar cards are not enough to establish citizenship under the NRC.
Gupta questioned whether it is not obvious that illegal immigration through Manipur’s porous borders has already allowed many individuals to settle in India, working in government, businesses, and other sectors. He suggested that these individuals, whose ancestors were not Indian, could be identified as non-citizens under NRC. He also pointed out that deportations due to illegal immigration through Manipur’s borders are already taking place.
He argued that the conflict in Manipur might have been orchestrated to prevent the implementation of the NRC, possibly supported by the drug economy, which is funding illegal groups equipped with sophisticated weapons capable of standing up to the Indian Army.
Gupta concluded by urging the government to act quickly and implement the NRC in Manipur and across India. He believes this move would naturally foster peace, as those who do not participate in the NRC would automatically be considered non-citizens of India.
