Imphal, March 11 Congress Legislature Party leader Keisham Meghachandra Singh urged the Manipur Assembly on Wednesday to pass a resolution to postpone the census in the troubled state until normalcy is restored.
Singh told the House that conducting a headcount "without the resettlement and rehabilitation of displaced families and without identifying illegal immigrants would not reflect a true demographic reality in Manipur".
"I would like to state that the census should be deferred until proper resettlement and verification processes are ensured," the opposition leader said in the House.
The Congress leader also appealed to the state government to postpone the census through a cabinet decision.
"As many displaced people are not staying in their homes, the conduct of the census would cause inconvenience to people in the state. We believe that now, a true census cannot be conducted. The people also want a postponement of this exercise," Singh said.
During the April-September period, a housing census is to be conducted, he said.
"The number of houses is to be counted as part of this exercise. How would the houses of those displaced persons be listed during the exercise?" he asked.
More than 260 people have been killed in Manipur and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki-Zo groups since May 2023.
The Wangkhem constituency legislator also said that the second phase of the census would be done in February-March 2027, when the actual number of the population would be counted.
"The problem we would be dealing with is not just for one community but for all communities. Therefore, I called for deferment of the census by way of a resolution in the House or by a cabinet decision."
Chief Minister Y. Khemchand Singh told the assembly that after the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and completion of house listing, the census would be conducted.
"It will take time," he added.