Kabuis are not Nagas: Kabui Union
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 14 2024: The Kabui Union Manipur has asserted that the Kabui community has never been a Naga in the more than 2000 years old history of Manipur.

It was only after the arrival of the British colonial rulers that the indigenous communities were divided as Nagas and Kukis to facilitate their divide and rule policy, the Kabui Union Manipur said in a press release.

After the merger of Manipur into the Indian Union, Kabui community was entered as Kabui (entry no 8) in the Scheduled Tribes list.

Except for Kacha Naga, no other community of Manipur is listed as Naga in the Scheduled Tribes list, it said.

Kabui community is one community which has been strictly following their own indigenous faith and upholding age old customs, it said.

The Kabui Union Manipur then appealed to all the people not to portray the Kabui community in the wrong light by terming the community either as Naga or Kuki.

The union further asserted that the Rongmei and Kabui are two separate tribes.

It also quoted the Rongmei People's Charter of Declaration made at Tamenglong on January 9, 2018, "Reaffirm and declare that the identity of our people as enshrined in the Constitution (Scheduled Tribe list) of India is Rongmei.

No nomenclature other than the Rongmei shall be used".

Asking all concerned not to portray Kabui and Rongmei as one single community, the Kabui Union Manipur asserted those elements who have been scheming to disintegrate Manipur should not victimise the Kabui community.

It further appealed to all the indigenous communities and the CSOs dedicated to the cause of the State to help the Kabui community survive and protect their identity.

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