Thadou Inpi Manipur Slams Kuki Inpi’s ‘Unconstitutional’ Directive

The Thadou Inpi Manipur, the apex body representing the Thadou people, has strongly condemned a recent directive by the Kuki Inpi Manipur that seeks to obstruct elected representatives from participating in forming a popular government in Manipur. In a statement issued on Tuesday, TIM labeled KIM’s Office Memorandum (Ref. No. 01/KIM/Admn.-OM/22-03/25, dated July 5, 2025) as unconstitutional and an overreach of authority, reiterating the distinct identity of the Thadou tribe.

TIM clarified that the term “Kuki-Zo” applies solely to individuals under the “Any Kuki Tribes (AKT)” Scheduled Tribe (ST) category, with a recorded population of 28,342 in Manipur as per the 2011 Census. In contrast, the Thadou tribe, with a population of 2.16 lakh as per the same census, is a constitutionally recognized indigenous group and the largest tribal community in Manipur, second only to the Meitei. TIM emphasized that neither Kuki-Zo nor KIM holds any authority over the Thadou people or their apex body.

The statement highlighted that TIM, formerly the Thadou National Council (est. 1984) and Thadou Tribe Council, has never been affiliated with KIM since its formation in 1993. The Thadou Conclave Delhi 2015 Declaration explicitly disavowed any association with KIM and its units, such as the Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO). TIM asserted that KIM’s jurisdiction is limited to AKT certificate holders and does not extend to the Thadou community.

TIM criticized KIM for issuing directives to MLAs from other communities, including Thadou, to defy party whips or abstain from government formation, calling such actions illegal and akin to those of unlawful organizations. The term “Inpi,” a Thadou word for socio-cultural institutions, does not grant KIM the right to interfere in political processes, TIM argued, urging KIM to focus solely on “Kuki issues” and refrain from meddling in the affairs of Thadou, Hmar, Paite, Vaiphei, Zou, or other Zo kindred tribes.

The statement accused KIM of undermining Thadou interests, notably by renaming the Thadou War of 1917-1919 as the “Anglo-Kuki War” and lobbying for its recognition as “Kuki Rising” in 2021, which TIM claims erases Thadou history and identity. Additionally, TIM pointed to KIM’s role in the inclusion of “Any Kuki Tribes” in Manipur’s ST list in 2003, which it says duplicated Thadou identity under the Kuki label during a period of heightened regional tensions.

TIM noted that three of the ten Zo MLAs supporting the “SA Demand in Manipur” – Nemcha Kipgen, Letpao Haokip, and Haokholet Kipgen – hold Thadou ST certificates. It urged these MLAs to obtain AKT certificates if they wish to identify as Kuki and warned against any intimidation of Thadou MLAs exercising their constitutional duties in government formation.

The body cautioned that KIM’s actions could attract legal consequences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Representation of the People Act, 1951, and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, for charges such as intimidation, criminal conspiracy, and sedition if they threaten public order or democratic processes.

Reaffirming its commitment to peace and democratic values, TIM called for harmonious coexistence among Manipur’s indigenous communities.

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