Propaganda And Politics on Delisting ‘Any Kuki Tribes’ from Manipur’s ST List

Last Updated on June 30, 2025 by SPN Editor

As someone deeply invested in the evolving socio-political journey of Manipur, I am inspired by the remarkable efforts of few organizations dedicated to shaping a brighter future for the region. Their innovative initiatives and unwavering commitment to progress are fostering hope and driving meaningful change in the state’s vibrant communities. I was impressed by the Thadou Inpi Manipur and Meitei Alliance for their stands on delisting the Any Kuki Tribes from the Schedule Tribes list of Manipur. I also encountered upon Hmar Tlangval’s press release on few reputed social media platforms, which was widely covered by local news channels, reinforcing the legitimacy of this cause. Yet, I’ve faced baseless accusations from some propaganda website, claiming I fabricated Hmar Tlangval as a “ghost organization,” despite its wide media coverage, support and endorsement by the 13,000 members of HIH CHET2 (HCC) CYBER team. These allegations unfairly target me while ignoring various publications and journalists who reported the same story, suggesting a personal attack aimed at silencing my voice.

Some Kuki propaganda websites and Hmar Inpui have falsely accused me of running a ghost organization, a claim that is baseless and malicious. As a journalist, I receive numerous press releases from various organizations and trusted sources, which are part of standard journalistic practice and protected as trade secrets. Neither India Today NE nor I uploaded the controversial press release in question, which was reportedly found to be published by a Facebook page Ruangmei Today, as a simple internet search confirms.

The authenticity of the press release in question has raised concerns about certain groups orchestrating propaganda, as corroborated by a statement circulated on the social media platform X, suggesting specific groups are behind the issue. However, a propaganda website aimed at targeting the Meitei community has twisted the narrative, creating a viral post to gain fleeting popularity. Neither India Today nor I are responsible for the mentioned press release.

The accusations, amplified by a WhatsApp group with fewer than 575 members, appear to be an opportunity for the said propaganda website dedicated to countering Meitei narratives in national media, while ironically spreading fake photographs and news themselves. It is perplexing that India Today NE and I are singled out when multiple newspapers covered the same story. My particular report for India Today NE was mainly relied on the Thadou Inpi Manipur and Meitei Alliance press release, yet the targeted allegations against me and my outlet alone are a clear attempt to malign one journalist and one media house, revealing a biased and orchestrated campaign.

This propaganda website which is in fact, a habitual liar and peddling fake news had accused me of running a “ghost organization,” citing a June 23, 2025, India Today NE report which was forced to take down, as a “false flag operation” linked to me as a contributor. These claims are baseless. Leading media outlets, including The Sangai Express, Imphal Times, Kangla Pao, Wayel Kati and Ruangmei Today etc , covered Hmar Tlangval’s press release, and the HCC Cyber Team’s endorsement affirms its legitimacy, praising its stance as a step towards equity. Why am I single out and targeted personally, when some prominent media houses reported the same story as their front page lead headline? Hmar Inpui’s selective sledging and backlashes appear as a personal attacks. This distracts from addressing Any Kuki Tribes’s flaws and undermines the collective effort for tribal clarity.

It is a good news that the HCC Team stands solidly with Hmar Tlangval’s call for justice, applauding their push for a fair reassessment of the Scheduled Tribes list. The ongoing inclusion of Any Kuki Tribes in the list remains contentious, and resolving this is crucial for promoting harmony and effective governance. The team also urged the Government to act quickly on the long-pending proposal to delist Any Kuki Tribes, as this is essential for upholding fairness and accountability.

The demand by some Indigenous groups in Manipur, such as the Thadou Inpi Manipur and Meitei Alliance and supported by organizations like the Youths of Eastern Zogam, to remove “Any Kuki Tribes” from the Scheduled Tribes list is not an act of ethnic animosity but a principled stand for constitutional integrity, tribal clarity, and equitable governance. This movement, backed by diverse voices in Manipur, seeks to address a flawed classification that fuels confusion, enables misuse, and undermines the rights of distinct tribal communities like the Thadou, Zomi, and Hmar. While critics frame the demand as anti-Kuki, a closer look reveals it is a necessary step toward truth and fairness in a state plagued by ethnic tensions and political manipulation.

The core issue of Any Kuki Tribes lies in the vague and problematic term “Any Kuki Tribes,” added to Manipur’s ST list in 2002. Unlike specific tribes like Thadou, Paite, or Zomi, which were individually recognized under the Constitution in 1956, AKT is a generic umbrella term that lacks anthropological or legal specificity. This ambiguity, as Thadou Inpi Manipur argues, has created a loophole, allegedly allowing undocumented immigrants and non-tribal groups to exploit ST benefits meant for historically disadvantaged communities.

The diversity of the state is often strained by complex socio-political tensions, fueled by disputes over identity recognition, resource allocation, and ethnic rivalries. To remove these Constitutional flaw, a joint memorandum to the Union Minister for Tribal Affairs on June 23, 2025, was sent which was described as a matter of “urgent and serious concern.” Aligned with the Manipur government’s recommendations, it seeks to restore constitutional integrity, protect distinct tribal identities, and foster equitable governance. The urgency is amplified by the Thadou tribe’s dissociation from the “Kuki” label and the stance of legislators from the Hmar, Paite, and Vaiphei tribes—Ngursanglur Sanate of Tipaimukh, Vungzagin Valte of Thanlon, and Lallian Mang Khaute of Churachandpur—who, in August 2024, denounced the “Kuki-Zo” nomenclature, demanding recognition by their distinct tribal names.

The demand to delist AKT is rooted in a constitutional flaw undermining India’s ST framework. Article 342 provides affirmative action to marginalized tribes through reservations in education, employment, and political representation. The 1956 Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes Reorganization identified 29 specific tribes in Manipur—Thadou, Hmar, Zomi, Paite, Vaiphei, Simte, Kom, Aimol, and others—based on rigorous anthropological criteria, ensuring targeted benefits.

The inclusion of Any Kuki Tribes in 2003 disrupted this precision. Recently, a joint memorandum by Thadou Inpi Manipur and the Meitei Alliance argues that AKT is a vague term lacking ethnographic legitimacy and constitutional specificity, reinstating a colonial-era grouping (1951–1956) discontinued after the 1956 SC/ST Amendment Act. Labeled politically motivated, AKT’s reinsertion violated the constitutional framework. The Manipur government’s cabinet decisions on October 19, 2018, and January 26, 2023, and its February 8, 2023, recommendation to the Ministry, urge AKT’s removal under Article 342, supported by the Manipur State Commission for Scheduled Tribes (2024).

AKT’s ambiguity risks misuse by foreigners or undocumented migrants claiming tribal rights, threatening Manipur’s demographic integrity. It also duplicates recognized tribes, particularly Thadou, whose clans—Haokip, Doungel, Kipgen, and Sitlhou—are misclassified under AKT, causing confusion and diluting ST benefits. The Youths of Eastern Zogam highlight the threat to smaller non-Naga tribes, noting identity fraud and communal tensions.
The delisting demand addresses the misrepresentation of tribal identities, particularly Thadou, Hmar, Paite, and Vaiphei. Thadou Inpi Manipur asserts that Thadou is not Kuki, a distinct tribe with its own language and history, yet AKT subsumes it into a politicized “Kuki” identity tied to separatist ideologies. The memorandum notes that tribes like Hmar, Paite, Vaiphei, Simte, Kom, and Aimol are similarly homogenized, enabling exploitation of ST benefits under multiple identities. Thadou clans like Haokip and Doungel are misclassified as “Kuki,” weakening distinctiveness.

The Manipur legislators’ rejection of “Kuki-Zo” aligns with this concern as well, as does Hmar Tlangval’s press release, accessed via trusted social media and corroborated by local media. Besides, the HCC Cyber Team’s June 25, 2025, endorsement praises Hmar Tlangval’s stance, calling for AKT’s removal to ensure fairness. The Youths of Eastern Zogam also highlight the threat to smaller tribes’ autonomy. The memorandum warns of fabricated identities like “Rohingya-Kuki,” endangering tribal rights. Thadou Inpi Manipur represents only Thadou, not Kuki-centric groups like Kuki Inpi, KSO, KNO, or UPF, emphasizing legal clarity over rivalry.

The political and ethnic unrest in Manipur intensified after the state cabinet’s January 26, 2023, decision to remove AKT, sparking opposition from Kuki organizations like the Kuki National Organization. They view the decision as marginalizing Kuki communities, exacerbating tensions.

Conversely, Thadou Inpi Manipur and the Thadou Students’ Association supported the decision, aligning with former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh. This divide within Thadou and Kuki/Any Kuki Tribe groups adds complexity to Manipur’s volatile political space, highlighting the challenge of balancing constitutional reform with ethnic sensitivities.

Some Inpuis label the delisting demand as anti-Kuki, accusing Thadou Inpi Manipur of aligning with Meitei interests. This misrepresents the intent: delisting AKT removes a redundant term, not legitimate tribes. The memorandum stresses that Thadou, Hmar, Paite, and Vaiphei remain protected, and “Kuki” is a politicized term rejected by native communities, as shown by Thadou’s dissociation and legislators’ stance.

The rejection of “Kuki-Zo” by legislators Sanate, Valte, and Khaute, HCC Cyber Team’s endorsement raise a question: why are tribes like Simte, Mate, and Vaiphei less vocal? Political pressures, fear of backlash from Kuki groups like KNO, or internal divisions may deter them. The legislators, Thadou Inpi Manipur, Thadou Student Association, and HCC Cyber Team set a precedent, showing that asserting tribal distinctiveness is a constitutional right. Encouraging these tribes to join is crucial for protecting their identities and strengthening the push for clarity.

Delisting AKT addresses a systemic flaw, restoring trust in governance by ensuring ST benefits reach intended tribes. The 2023 decision deepened divisions, but support from TIM, TSA, and legislators highlights the need for reform and showing unity.

Manipur’s strength lies in its diversity, with each community— Tangkhul, Kabui, Zeme, Rongmei, Thangal, Maring, Anal, Aimol, Kom, Chothe, Thadou, Hmar, Zomi, Paite, Vaiphei, Meitei, and others—contributing to its cultural and historical richness. The demand to delist AKT is not about erasing any group’s identity but about honoring the distinctiveness of each tribe while safeguarding their constitutional protections. It is a call to correct a systemic flaw that undermines trust, fuels division, and perpetuates inequity, replacing ambiguity with clarity and injustice with fairness.

The widespread support for this cause, from state institutions to tribal organizations, legislators, the Thadou Students’ Association, and endorsement from the HCC Cyber Team signals a hopeful step toward a more equitable Manipur. Despite the personal accusations leveled against me by Hmar Inpui, I remain steadfast in my commitment to this movement, seeing it as a critical step toward a future where all communities thrive in harmony. The bold stance of legislators like Ngursanglur Sanate, Vungzagin Valte, and Lallian Mang Khaute, alongside the Thadou’s rejection of “Kuki,” further amplifies the urgency of this reform, reflecting a growing consensus among Manipur’s tribes to reclaim their distinct identities.

The Ministry must act to delist Any Kuki Tribes, setting a precedent for unity and justice in a state deserving peace. Therefore, the ambiguity surrounding the Any Kuki Tribe designation poses a serious risk of misuse by foreigners or undocumented migrants claiming tribal rights, thereby threatening the demographic integrity of the state. The demand to delist “Any Kuki Tribes” from Manipur’s Scheduled Tribes list, championed by organizations like Thadou Inpi Manipur, Meitei Alliance, and supported by groups such as the Youths of Eastern Zogam and the HCC Cyber Team, is a principled effort to restore constitutional clarity and ensure equitable governance.

Despite baseless accusations from propaganda websites and supported by groups like Hmar Inpui, which have unfairly targeted me and India Today NE while ignoring widespread media coverage by outlets like The Sangai Express and Imphal Times, the call for delisting remains a vital step toward fairness. These allegations, amplified by a small WhatsApp group and a website notorious for spreading false narratives against the Meitei community, reflect a deliberate attempt to silence voices advocating for reform. The Ministry must act swiftly to delist “Any Kuki Tribes,” addressing a systemic flaw that fuels division and threatens Manipur’s demographic integrity. By supporting this cause, civil society and tribal organizations can further amplify the push for justice, ensuring that Manipur’s diverse communities—each with its unique identity—thrive in harmony, fostering a future of unity, clarity, and equitable governance