TCI refutes 'in touch with CM' allegation
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 25 2024: The Thadou Community International (TCI) has denied the claim that they are in touch with the Chief Minister.

TCI, in a statement, said that the allegation that TCI is supporting and in touch with Chief Minister N Biren Singh is baseless and unfounded.

Asking all concerned who make the allegation to come up with evidence that TCI supports the Chief Minister, it clarified that TCI is an apolitical organization that has no political motive or connection with any politician or political parties.

TCI works entirely in the interest of Thadou people, TCI added.

Stating that if calling for peace links them to the Chief Minister, TCI asked whether the accusers prefer violence at the expense of innocent lives.

Instead of making baseless allegations, the 10 Kuki MLAs and civil society organizations advocating for a Separate Administration and the removal of the Chief Minister should be questioned for remaining active members of the Manipur State Assembly and supporting the State administration, TCI added.

Continuing that TCI urges peace, justice, and non-violent resolutions in Manipur, 'where the Thadous have been the most affected and largest innocent victims of the violence since May 3, 2023,' the association maintained that the people of Manipur have endured enough conflict and experienced enough violent conflicts.

Stating that Thadous are part of the bigger Zo or Mizo family in India, TCI maintained that Thadous, however, must be called Thadou, without any prefix or suffix, and not with a mistaken or imposed name like Kuki.

The name of the dialect/language of Thadou tribe is Thadou without any prefix or suffix, and anything that portrays as otherwise due to political or some reasons is erroneous and should be corrected, TCI said.

TCI also said "We denounce and warn against any form of cultural appropriation by anyone on any linguistic and cultural group, and the misrepresentation of Thadou as Kuki or being under, or part of, the 2003-born fake Kuki tribe" .

Maintaining that they reject being part of any entity that excludes the Thadou, TCI said that they denounce the term Kuki-Zo as an attempt to impose the Kuki identity on those who do not identify as Kuki.

TCI is dedicated to protecting the distinct Thadou identity and will fight against any agenda threatening it, TCI said and asserted that they are also committed to ending the suppression and rampant abuse of Thadou rights, especially by Kuki supremacists.

TCI also said they condemn the actions of anti-Thadou individuals and groups under the guise of the fake Thadou Tribe Council (TTC) for spreading hate speech and disinformation against the Thadou tribe and its leaders.

Continuing that TCI welcomes constructive criticism, the association added that it will not engage in personal attacks or defamation, as such behaviour is harmful and unproductive for the community.

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