Disown Kuki tag : TIM to Nemcha

By Our Staff Reporter
Imphal, Feb 5 : The Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM) has called upon Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen to uphold Thadou identity, protect Manipur’s territorial integrity, and disassociate from Kuki tags, organisations, and separatist ideology.
TIM, in a statement, congratulated Nemcha Kipgen on her appointment as Deputy Chief Minister of Manipur, marking a historic milestone as the 'first member of the Thadou tribe' to hold this Constitutional office.
While acknowledging her earlier support for the Thadou community, TIM stated that there is no “Kuki” in Manipur, except for the controversial and unconstitutional Any Kuki Tribes (AKT), which recorded a population of 28,324 in the 2011 Census.
Since May 3, 2023, Kipgen’s visible alignment with Kuki-centric narratives has raised serious concerns, particularly where such narratives verge on Kuki separatist and supremacist ideology, it claimed.
As a Thadou tribe certificate holder, elected from a General (50–Kangpokpi) seat and not from “Any Kuki Tribes (AKT),” Kipgen must immediately and unequivocally disassociate herself from Kuki organizations, social bodies, and separatist political movements, TIM continued and added that any continued association is incompatible with her Constitutional role as Deputy Chief Minister.
Stating that the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement clearly safeguards the territorial integrity of Manipur, TIM added that Kipgen bears an enhanced responsibility to uphold the agreement in both letter and spirit given her personal association with the Kuki National Front (KNF).
Any action or statement promoting disunity, separatism, or Kuki exclusivist politics would constitute a serious breach of public trust, TIM said,
Further stating that there must be no intimidation, targeting, or obstruction of her presence in Imphal, it added that a Thadou–Meitei community understanding has been established, and Thadous have been able to move freely in Imphal and other parts of the valley.
Peace must not be disturbed through misidentification or misrepresentation of identity, TIM said.
As Deputy Chief Minister, Kipgen is expected to function from Imphal and discharge her duties without ambiguity or parallel political loyalties, TIM said  and called upon her to reject Kuki political identity and commit to defending Thadou human rights, particularly against Kuki supremacist forces.
TIM also demanded strict and full adherence to the SoO agreement and to reject  any interpretation that seeks the fragmentation of Manipur through demands for a Separate Administration (SA) or Union Territory (UT).
The phrase “negotiated political settlement within the framework of the Constitution of India” must not be misinterpreted as a provision for the possible disintegration of Manipur through SA or UT demands, TIM said and added that the SoO agreement within the clause "to abide by the Constitution of India, the laws of the land, and the territorial integrity of Manipur" specifically stipulates that the territorial integrity of Manipur shall not be disturbed.
Any negotiated political settlement must remain fully within this clause of the SoO agreement, it said.