Sun May 04 06:25:44 UTC 2025: **Manipur Groups Demand NRC Update, Removal of “Kuki” Label**

GUWAHATI, INDIA (May 4, 2025) – Five organizations representing Manipur’s Meitei and Thadou communities have issued a joint statement demanding an Assam-style National Register of Citizens (NRC) update to identify and remove “illegal immigrants.” The groups, including the Meitei Heritage Society and Thadou Inpi Manipur, also called for the removal of the “Any Kuki Tribes (AKT)” designation from the Scheduled Tribe list, citing its exploitation by immigrants. They further demanded the termination of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with Kuki extremist groups, accusing them of using the agreement to terrorize indigenous populations.

The statement, released on May 2nd, emphasizes the distinct identity of the Thadou people, asserting they are not Kuki and that the term “Kuki” is a colonial construct misused to sow discord. The organizations argue that the ambiguous AKT designation, added in 2003, facilitates the influx of illegal immigrants and promotes a dangerous ideology of “Kuki supremacism.” They propose using the names of the individually recognized Scheduled Tribes listed in the Indian Constitution to avoid the blanket term “Kuki.”

The groups support the Ministry of Home Affairs’ efforts to ensure free movement throughout the state and call for action against those obstructing this right. They also seek the rehabilitation and resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs), many of whom remain in relief camps following the ethnic conflict that began in May 2023. The joint statement underscores the Meitei and Thadou communities’ commitment to Manipur’s unity and territorial integrity.

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