Amidst the Manipur crisis, Thadou Inpi Manipur and Meitei groups have issued a joint statement, agreeing on key issues like safeguarding Manipur’s integrity and calling for the deletion of the “Kuki” term, while noting the Inpi’s non-universal representation.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, May 2, 2025 – In a significant development amidst the ongoing ethnic tensions in Manipur, representatives from the Thadou tribe, under the umbrella of the Thadou Inpi Manipur, and prominent Meitei civil society organizations have forged a united front, publicly declaring their commitment to preserving the integrity and unity of the state.
Following an in-depth academic discourse held in the national capital on April 10, 2025, representatives from both communities issued a joint statement. Their core demands include the urgent implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur and the contentious deletion of the entry “Any Kuki Tribes” (AKT) from the state’s official Scheduled Tribes (ST) list.
Crucially, it should be noted that the Thadou Inpi Manipur, while an influential body, does not represent the majority of members of the Thadou tribe, and diverse viewpoints may exist within the community. This alliance, therefore, reflects the consensus reached by these specific organizations from the Thadou and Meitei communities.
The academic discourse, titled “Ethnic Identity and Conflict in Manipur,” was jointly organized by Thadou Inpi Manipur, Thadou Students’ Association, Meitei Heritage Society, Delhi Manipuri Society, and Ningol United Progressive Initiative at the India International Centre. The event brought together scholars and community representatives to foster dialogue and understanding regarding the prevailing crisis in Manipur.
The joint statement reaffirmed the “community understanding” achieved between the Thadou and Meitei communities in New Delhi on March 7, 2025, emphasizing mutual respect, peaceful co-existence, and collaborative resolution of inter-community issues. Marking the second observance of the Manipur crisis on May 3, 2025, both parties reiterated their commitment to the territorial integrity and unity of Manipur as a multi-ethnic state, acknowledging the Thadou people’s contributions to the state’s collective interests.
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A key point of agreement was the recognition by both parties that the Thadou community is distinct and does not fall under the category of “Kuki” or “Any Kuki Tribes.” Building on this, they jointly resolved to appeal to the relevant authorities for the deletion of the “unconstitutional and ambiguous ethnic identity, ‘Any Kuki tribes’ (AKT),” from Manipur’s ST list. The statement argues that this ambiguous identity is being exploited by illegal immigrants to gain undeserved ST status, promoting a “dangerous ideology of ‘Kuki Supremacism'” that threatens communal unity and national security. The inclusion of AKT in the ST list in 2003 due to political reasons allegedly facilitated a significant influx of illegal immigrants into Manipur.
Furthermore, both the Thadou and Meitei representatives agreed that the term “Kuki” is not an authentic ethnic or cultural identity but a “faulty colonial construct” exploited by vested interests with separatist agendas. They called for the discontinuation of the term “Kuki” in all academic, research, and government settings, advocating for the use of the specific names of Manipur’s 29 recognized Scheduled Tribes as listed in the Indian Constitution.
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The joint statement also included a strong denouncement of “Kuki supremacism and extremism,” alleging a systematic design to demand separate administration and persecute Thadou and other communities. Both parties urgently called upon the Government of India to expedite the updating of the NRC in Manipur to identify and address illegal immigration. They also demanded the immediate termination of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with “Kuki supremacist, extremist rebel groups,” citing gross violations of the agreement and its alleged misuse to “terrorise and oppress unarmed indigenous people.”
In other resolutions, the groups supported the Ministry of Home Affairs’ efforts to ensure free and safe movement across Manipur and appealed for the rehabilitation and resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in their original places of residence with proper compensation and protection.
The joint statement concludes by encouraging civil society organizations representing the Meitei and Thadou communities, and all other indigenous people of Manipur, to work towards mutual respect, constructive dialogue, and long-term peace based on justice, recognition, and coexistence.
