Manipur’s demography has become serious: LS MP Dr Bimol

The character of Manipur demography has become very serious, said Lok Sabha MP from Manipur Dr Angomcha Bimol Akoijam who attended the observance of the 10th death anniversary of Sapam Robinhood, a student who was killed during the Inner Line Permit (ILP) protest in 2015, on Tuesday.
The death anniversary was solemnly observed on Tuesday at Yelhoumeeshingi Ningshing Khubam, Awa Ching in Imphal East district with renewed calls for protection of indigenous identity. The MP said that the character of the Manipur demography has become very serious while stressing the crucial need of finding out who are the foreigners staying in the state illegally and who are the genuine citizens of the state.
He said that the sacrifices made by Sapam Robinhood have highlighted the profound patriotism among the youths and students of the state.
He (Robinhood) might not fully understand what the ILP (Inner Line Permit) system is all about. But he would have the sense of demographic impact on the indigenous people of the state, he observed. “Our demographic character is a serious issue. Whenever we plan whether it may be economic, we need to know the paternal character of the demographic,” he said.
Being a small community, to take care of the issues of how to protect is very vital. The observance of the day is important so as to remind the people constantly of the demographic character of the region, he said.
The MP further stressed the need for reviewing the effectiveness of the introduction of the ILP system in the state while stressing the need for reviewing the implementation of the system from the ground level.
The 10th death anniversary of Sapam Robinhood ceremony was attended by student bodies, civil society organisations, and family members.
Leaders and representatives of various CSOs turned up to pay tribute to Robinhood’s sacrifice for the indigenous people of the region. The leaders reiterated the demand for the immediate implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur.
They also urged the government to adopt a meticulous and transparent approach in Aadhaar card issuance, warning that unchecked distribution could threaten the demographic integrity of the state.
The Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) stated that the spirit of the ILP movement must continue and stressed the need for strong policies to protect the indigenous people of Manipur.
The death anniversary was also held at Ananda Singh Academy Imphal, the school where Robinhood studied.
Attending the floral tributes ceremony, the father of martyred student, Sapam Romesh made an emotional appeal, urging for the emergence of genuine leaders who can uphold the true idea of Manipur and safeguard the territorial integrity of the state.
He emphasized the need for leadership rooted in justice and unity, especially during the ongoing unrest in the region.
The anniversary was marked by floral tributes, candlelight offerings, and renewed calls to implement NRC and regulate Aadhaar enrollment with a meticulous verification process.