Manipur is heading towards another major shutdown as the Joint Democratic Front (JDF) has called for a 24 hour general strike beginning at midnight on August 31. The group is demanding that census related activities in the state be suspended until the National Register of Citizens is updated. The shutdown comes amid growing disagreement over the sequence of the NRC and Census exercises. Protest groups have maintained that the NRC should be updated first, while concerns have intensified ahead of the Manipur Legislative Assembly session scheduled to begin on September 2.

The issue has already triggered protests across the Imphal Valley. On Sunday, demonstrations were reported at several locations, including a torch rally in Kakching under the slogan “No NRC, No Census”. The rally reportedly turned tense after police stopped protesters from moving towards the district headquarters. Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, who is currently in New Delhi, has urged people and organisations to avoid bandhs and road blockades. He warned that such forms of protest can disrupt daily life and, at times, lead to violence. The Chief Minister has instead called for democratic and peaceful methods of raising concerns. At the same time, Khemchand has acknowledged the demand for an NRC update and said both the state and central governments are committed to addressing the aspirations of the people.

He also highlighted the efforts of civil society leaders and MLAs who have travelled to Delhi to press their case before central leaders and officials. The controversy has also affected preparations linked to Census 2027. Earlier protests led several district administrations in the Imphal Valley to defer or cancel training programmes for census enumerators and supervisors. The latest shutdown is expected to put additional pressure on the government ahead of the Assembly session. With the NRC demand becoming a major political and social issue in the state, attention is now focused on whether discussions in Delhi and the upcoming Assembly proceedings can produce a way forward. For Manipur, the immediate challenge is to balance demands for demographic verification with the need to maintain peace and ensure that essential services and daily activities are not disrupted. The coming days are likely to be crucial for determining how the NRC Census dispute develops