Ukhrul, May 23, 2025, Virthli (ONP): The Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS), the apex student body of the Tangkhul community, has issued a strong condemnation following an incident during the Shirui Lily Festival, where members of a group reportedly affiliated with the Arambai Tenggol - specifically identifying as the “Cobra Team Unit 58” hoisted the Meitei seven-colored flag atop Shirui peak in Ukhrul district.
The TKS described the act as a "grave provocation" and a "deliberate political symbolism" that infringes upon the cultural and territorial sanctity of the Tangkhul Nagas. According to the statement, the incident is viewed as an attempt to assert ideological and territorial dominance in sacred Tangkhul land, far beyond the Imphal Valley.
“The Shirui Lily Festival celebrates not only the rare endemic flower but also the enduring spirit and identity of the Tangkhul people,” the statement reads. “To politicize this occasion with such reckless acts is unacceptable.”
TKS categorically rejected any interpretation of the seven-colored Meitei flag as representative of Manipur's collective identity, asserting that it carries partisan and historical implications that undermine Naga rights. The organization warned that any repetition of similar intrusions would face “strong consequences,” emphasizing that the dignity and territorial integrity of the Tangkhul people are “non-negotiable.”
Highlighting the Tangkhul community’s history of welcoming all communities with “grace and goodwill,” the statement stressed that such hospitality “should not be mistaken for weakness, nor our silence for consent.”
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TKS concluded by urging citizens and organizations to reflect on the incident and ensure that such divisive acts do not recur. “This is essential for the sake of peace, justice, and the genuine spirit of co-existence,” the statement emphasized.
