Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM) 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, Thadou Inpi Manipur unequivocally 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. As a Thadou Tribe certificate holder, elected from a General (50–Kangpokpi) seat and not from “Any Kuki tribes (AKT),” Nemcha Kipgen must immediately and unequivocally disassociate herself from Kuki organizations, social bodies, and separatist political movements. Any continued association is incompatible with her constitutional role as Deputy Chief Minister, TIM stated in a press release.
The Suspension of Operations (SoO) Agreement clearly safeguards the territorial integrity of Manipur. Given her personal association with the Kuki National Front (KNF)—a UPF group and SoO signatory—she bears an enhanced responsibility to uphold the agreement in both letter and spirit. Any action or statement promoting disunity, separatism, or Kuki exclusivist politics would constitute a serious breach of public trust, it stated. There must be no intimidation, targeting, or obstruction of her presence in Imphal. A Thadou–Meitei community understanding has been established, and Thadous have been able to move freely and fearlessly in Imphal and other parts of the valley. Peace must not be disturbed through misidentification or misrepresentation of identity, it stated. Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha’s identity must be stated with clarity: she is Thadou, not Kuki, nor a political representative of Kuki ideology. Nemcha Kipgen must fearlessly and unequivocally reject Kuki ideology and separatist agendas and fully embrace her distinct Thadou identity within the framework of a united and inclusive, multi-ethnic Manipur. As Deputy Chief Minister, she is expected to function from Imphal and discharge her duties without ambiguity or parallel political loyalties, it stated.
Thadou Inpi Manipur firmly called upon Nemcha Kipgen to reject Kuki political identity and commit to defending Thadou human rights, particularly against Kuki supremacist forces; and strict and full adherence to the SoO Agreement, rejecting any interpretation that seeks the fragmentation of Manipur through demands for 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 state through SA or UT demands. 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 State shall not be disturbed; therefore, any negotiated political settlement must remain fully within this clause of the SoO agreement, it stated. Her office is constitutional. Her responsibility is public. Her accountability is non-negotiable, TIM stated.
