Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM) has strongly objected to the reference made in the press release issued by the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) Manipur on March 9, in which certain legislators were described as “Kuki-Zo-Hmar MLAs.” The label was applied to six MLAs representing Kangpokpi, Saitu, Tipaimukh, Saikul, Churachandpur, and Henglep Assembly constituencies.
TIM, in a press release, condemned in the strongest terms the use of “communal and ethnic labelling” within the Manipur Legislative Assembly, saying members of the assembly are elected to represent all citizens of Manipur and their respective constituencies and must never be reduced to ethnic or communal blocs on the floor of the House. Such terminology is deeply irresponsible, sets a dangerous precedent, and undermines the principles of democratic representation, it stated.
By invoking an exclusive label such as “Kuki-Zo-Hmar MLAs,” the government of Manipur implicitly legitimizes the notion that the assembly can be divided along ethnic lines. By the same reasoning, it could imply that the Chief Minister is merely a Meitei MLA and a Meitei Chief Minister. Such characterizations threaten the constitutional spirit of representation and compromise the Assembly’s role as an institution serving all citizens without discrimination, it stated.
At a time when Manipur urgently needs leadership to heal divisions and restore trust, statements of this nature only deepen communal fault lines and weaken governance, it continued.
TIM urged the Government of Manipur to refrain from communalizing democratic institutions and to uphold the Assembly’s dignity, neutrality, and inclusivity. For years, TIM and the Thadou community have consistently warned against misidentification, Kuki appeasement, and the rise of Kuki supremacist ideology—factors that have contributed to both past and recent violence in the state. Using the term “Kuki” to describe diverse tribal communities, including the Thadou, is deeply irresponsible, particularly following periods of violence driven, in part, by such agendas. Mislabelling communities emboldens divisive narratives and distorts the historical reality of Manipur as a united, inclusive, multi-ethnic society built on coexistence and mutual respect, it stated.
It stated that the Thadou and other indigenous tribes have consistently rejected the label “Kuki,” asserting their distinct identities and status as Manipur’s indigenous peoples. No indigenous tribe in Manipur traditionally identifies as Kuki, and promoting this label only deepens confusion and undermines the integrity of the state’s indigenous communities.
TIM stated that the recent attendance of certain MLAs in the Manipur Legislative Assembly—who had earlier demanded a form of separate administration under Article 239A on the Puducherry model for areas represented by ten constituencies—demonstrates the practical limitations and futility of pursuing such a demand within the present constitutional framework. Their decision to participate in the Assembly proceedings reflects a positive step toward fulfilling their constitutional duties and responsibilities as elected representatives of the people of Manipur.
This development deserves appreciation, as participation in the legislative process strengthens democratic governance and encourages constructive dialogue. The public should support such engagement, which helps restore institutional normalcy and foster political accountability, it stated.
While appreciating their participation in the assembly, TIM reiterated that labelling all non-Naga tribes of Manipur under a single umbrella term such as “Kuki-Zo-Hmar,” despite the absence of a universally accepted or historically unified nomenclature among these communities, must be stopped. Such misidentification should be addressed and prevented in official communications, it stated.
Respecting the distinct identities of Manipur’s indigenous communities is not merely a matter of terminology—it is a matter of truth, dignity, and justice. It is also essential for safeguarding the integrity, harmony, and genuine character of Manipur, it stated.
TIM urged the DIPR Manipur to issue a public apology to the people of the state and ensure that such a mistake is never repeated.
