The Meetei (Meitei) Tribe Union (MMTU) has escalated its ongoing dispute with the Kuki-Zo community, threatening to approach the Supreme Court over what they allege is the illegal granting of Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the latter. The MMTU claims that the Kuki-Zo community entered India without valid immigration and has urged for their ST status to be revoked. Takhellambam Parijat Singh, the organisational secretary of MMTU, expressed concern regarding the inclusion of immigrants from Myanmar on India’s voters’ and ST lists, describing this action as unconstitutional and a violation of the Foreigners’ Act of 1946. The group voiced apprehensions over “unchecked illegal immigration,” accusing authorities of enabling these immigrants to register as voters and receive ST status. The MMTU characterized these actions as part of a broader agenda that threatens the survival of indigenous communities in Manipur. The organization believes that legal action is necessary to address what they perceive as a risk to the region’s demographic balance and cultural identity.
MMTU contended that the Kuki-Zo people are not original inhabitants of Manipur, asserting there were no villages associated with them prior to 1834. They claim that the Kuki population in the region consists of 29 households that historically paid taxes to Naga village chiefs, highlighting their non-indigenous status. The MMTU further noted that until 1973, Kuki refugees relied on both central and state governments for aid and rehabilitation. They pointed to historical records as evidence of this claim. The inclusion of the Kuki-Zo in the ST list in 1950, particularly the phrase “any Kuki-Zo tribe” introduced in 1956, allegedly facilitated further immigration from Myanmar into Manipur.
The organization emphasized that Indian constitutional provisions set stringent criteria for communities to qualify for ST status, asserting that only those with long-standing habitation in an area should be considered. They cited legal precedents from a 2011 Supreme Court ruling and a 2023 Delhi High Court judgment, both affirming that “outsiders” cannot be included in the ST list, referencing similar instances in other Indian states. The MMTU voiced deep concerns about the future of the Meitei people, fearing that an influx of non-indigenous groups seeking ST status could jeopardize their land rights, political power, and cultural identity. The organization highlighted that only 700 square miles remain for Meitei settlement in the state, with potential political shifts, such as delimitation, threatening further isolation.
