Supreme Court Hearing on Delimitation in Northeast India

The Supreme Court's recent hearing on the pending delimitation in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland has sparked political and social concerns in Manipur. Here’s a detailed look into the scenario:

Background and Current Status

• In March 2023, the Supreme Court granted the Indian government three months to provide a plan for conducting the long-pending delimitation in the Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland.
• The last delimitation in Manipur was conducted in 1976, based on the 1971 Census.

Reasons for Delimitation Delay

• Delimitation was not carried out in 2008 in certain states, including Manipur, due to security concerns and political opposition questioning the 2001 Census data's credibility.
• A Presidential notification in 2008 had deferred the exercise, which was rescinded in 2020, necessitating a new delimitation process.

Demographic Concerns in Manipur

• Manipur comprises 60 Assembly seats: 40 in the Meitei-majority valley and 20 in the Naga- and Kuki-Zomi-majority hill districts, with most hill constituencies reserved for Scheduled Tribes.
• The 2001 Census showed unexpectedly high population growth in hill districts, creating fears among the Meitei community of losing three Assembly seats to hill areas.

Calls for a Fair Process

• Leaders across the political spectrum in Manipur urge the use of more recent and accurate census data for the delimitation process.
• Manipur opposition advocates for the exercise post the completion of the delayed 2021 Census for a fair outcome.

New Opposition and Demands

• Amid ongoing ethnic tensions, some leaders are demanding the creation of a National Register of Citizens (NRC) before delimitation, citing irregular population growth in Kuki-Zo villages as evidence of illegal immigration.
• Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba highlighted significant increases in Kuki-Zo villages compared to minimal growth in Naga areas as a basis for these concerns.

Community Perspectives

• While some leaders focus on the Kuki-Zomi community, the Naga People's Front supports delimitation, viewing NRC demands as a tactic to delay the process.
• Kuki-Zomi MLA Paolienlal Haokip argues that the opposition to delimitation reveals reluctance to share power and resources, supporting separate administration for tribal communities.

The tension surrounding delimitation in Manipur underscores deep-seated demographic and political divisions, complicated by calls for processes like the NRC to ensure fairness and security before implementing changes.