Thadou Inpi clarifies on KTC, TKSU
Source: The Sangai Express
Kangpokpi, August 19 2018:
The Thadou Inpi-General Headquarters have come up with a clarification over the alleged existence of Kuki Tribe Council (KTC) and Thadou Kuki Students' Union (TKSU), said a statement released by Thadou Inpi.
The press release issued by Dept of Information & Publicity, Thadou Inpi GHQ said that the Thadou Inpi (TI) General Headquarters is shocked to learn of the existence of the so-called Kuki Tribe Council (KTC), whose representatives reportedly met with the governor of Manipur on August 10, 2018 regarding the Manipur People Bill, 2018 .
It said that the idea is probably the culmination of the nefarious campaigns and attempts of some vested interests to turn Kuki as a mere tribe entity for some vested interests, but sadly this is also potentially the end stage of the assassination of Kuki as a nation and common nomenclature for many kindred tribes.
It also said that Thadou Inpi would like to remind that Thadou is a lingua-cultural tribe of all those who speak Thadou language and follow Thadou culture and it is not for any or some particular clan or family groups within Thadou tribe while adding that Thadou Inpi has always accepted Kuki as a common nomenclature for many kindred tribes but rejected the idea of Kuki as a tribe equivalent to any other recognized tribes.
It further said that the Kuki Tribe Council may have been formed on the basis of 'Any Kuki tribes' which was wrongly added to the official list of scheduled tribes of Manipur in 2003 through some political manoeuvres with flawed or without any basis or rationale.
Mention may be made that in 1951, which was prior to the completion of the process of proper reorganization of the various indigenous tribes of Manipur, Kuki groups and Naga groups of Manipur were simply included or listed under either 'Any Kuki tribes' or 'Any Naga tribes', but upon the completion of the process of reorganization bf all the indigenous tribes of Manipur in 1956, each tribe under the 'any Kuki' or 'any Naga' tribes were duly recognized as a separate tribe based on their distinct language, culture, customs and traditions, it added.
It also said both the 'Any Kuki tribes' and 'Any Naga tribes' had been deleted in 1956 after due reorganization of the various indigenous tribes of Manipur, but interestingly 'Any Kuki tribes' resurfaced in 2003 while all the hitherto Kuki tribes remain as recognized distinct tribes of Manipur.
It continued that there is a great confusion and danger with this 'any Kuki tribes' in that while it does not belong to any specific lingua-cultural group of people it can be misused by anyone or any group of people from anywhere in the world.
While clarifying the various media releases issued recently in the name of Thadou Kuki Students' Union (TKSU) against the Deputy Commissioner of Churachandpur, the Thadou Inpi clarified that under Thadou Inpi, which is the supreme council of Thadou tribe, there are only Thadou voluntary social organizations like Thadou Students' Association (TSA), Thadou Youth Association (TYA) and Thadou Women's Association.
It said that Thadou Inpi or any of its constituent bodies have nothing to do with any activities of TKSU and had no knowledge or recognition of the existence of TKSU.