Thadou Bodies Demand Suspension of Census in Manipur Until Deletion of ‘Any Kuki Tribes’

Imphal, Jan 17: Three leading Thadou organisations - Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM), Thadou Students’ Association (TSA) and Thadou Community International (TCI) - have jointly called for the immediate suspension of any census exercise in Manipur until the contentious entry “Any Kuki tribes (AKT)” is fully and permanently deleted from the state’s Scheduled Tribes list.

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In a media release issued on Saturday, the organisations said proceeding with the census before removing AKT would be “reckless and irresponsible,” warning that it could aggravate ethnic tensions and potentially trigger renewed large-scale conflict in Manipur. They also maintained that the deletion of AKT must precede any National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise to ensure credible outcomes.

The Thadou bodies alleged that AKT, inserted in 2003, has functioned as an administrative loophole enabling illegal immigrants and non-indigenous outsiders to obtain residency benefits and Scheduled Tribe status. Conducting a census without first correcting this, they argued, would compromise the state’s demographic integrity, violate indigenous rights, and pose risks to national security.

Referring to past data, the organisations noted that the 2011 Census recorded a Kuki population for the first time at 28,342, figures they claim were never rigorously verified. Any further census prior to deleting AKT, they said, would “legalise unverified and potentially illegal populations” and permanently distort public policy.

The statement pointed out that the Government of Manipur has, through Cabinet decisions in 2018, 2023 and 2024, formally proposed deletion of AKT to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, with the matter awaiting views from the Registrar General of India. Delays, the groups warned, coupled with the prevailing law-and-order situation in hill districts, could lead to coercion during census operations.

The organisations further alleged that under current conditions - marked by the presence of armed Kuki militant groups - conducting a free, fair and credible census would be impossible. They claimed that census officials and residents could face intimidation and forced misclassification under AKT, rendering any post-enumeration correction ineffective.

Citing statements made at a conclave held in Churachandpur in April 2023, the Thadou bodies alleged that some Kuki leaders had openly expressed intentions to use the census to achieve demographic dominance, warning that such mobilisation had preceded the violence that erupted in May 2023.

Reiterating their long-standing opposition to the inclusion of “Kuki” or “Any Kuki tribes” in the Scheduled Tribes list since the 1970s, the organisations said the present crisis vindicated their earlier warnings. They issued what they termed a “final and non-negotiable” call to the Government of Manipur, the Government of India, and census authorities to suspend all census-related processes until AKT is removed, holding authorities accountable for any consequences if the demand is ignored.

The release concluded by reaffirming that Thadou is a distinct ethnic group, not a subset of Kuki, and that any organisation portraying Thadou as part of Kuki does not represent Thadou interests. The statement was signed by Manggou Thadou, Joint General Secretary, Thadou Inpi Manipur.