Hmar body backs Thadou Inpi Manipur’s call to remove ‘Any Kuki Tribes’ from Manipur’s ST list

The Hmar Tlangval, a prominent organization representing the Hmar tribe, has issued a strong endorsement of the Thadou Inpi Manipur and Meitei Alliance’s demand to remove the term “Any Kuki Tribes” (AKT) from the Scheduled Tribes list of Manipur. In a press statement released today, the Hmar Tlangval expressed solidarity with a joint memorandum submitted to Jual Oram, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, by the Thadou Inpi Manipur and Meitei Alliance on June 23, 2025.

The memorandum calls for the immediate deletion of AKT from the ST list, describing its inclusion as a matter of “urgent and serious concern.” The Hmar Tlangval echoed these sentiments, arguing that the AKT category, introduced in 2003, undermines the identity and rights of smaller non-Naga tribes in Manipur. “The inclusion of ‘Any Kuki Tribes’ greatly affects non-Naga tribals, particularly smaller tribes who are increasingly being subsumed under the Kuki identity through force and coercion by Kuki supremacists,” the Hmar Tlangval stated.

The joint memorandum aligns with the Manipur government’s official stance, referencing cabinet decisions from October 19, 2018, and January 2, 2023, as well as a formal recommendation sent to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs on February 8, 2023, urging the removal of AKT under Article 342 of the Constitution. The organizations argue that the 2003 inclusion of AKT was politically motivated, lacked constitutional legitimacy, and violated the established framework set by the 1956 SC/ST Amendment Act, which recognized 29 specific Scheduled Tribes in Manipur after detailed ethnographic surveys.

According to the memorandum, the AKT category is a vague and expandable label that has led to the duplication of recognized tribes, such as the Thadou, Hmar, Paite, Vaiphei, Simte, Kom, and Aimol, which are already listed distinctly in the ST schedule. The groups claim that clans and surnames like Haokip, Doungel, Kipgen, and Sitlhou, which belong to recognized tribes, are being erroneously categorized under AKT, creating confusion and legal loopholes. They further warn that the term’s ambiguity could be exploited by non-native groups or illegal immigrants, with fabricated identities such as “Rohingya-Kuki” or “Kachin-Kuki” potentially undermining Manipur’s demographic integrity and tribal rights.

The Hmar Tlangval emphasized that the 32 Scheduled Tribes officially listed in Manipur, excluding AKT, are sufficient to represent the state’s diverse tribal communities. “The need for ‘Any Kuki Tribe’ is null and void,” the statement declared, urging the immediate removal of the term without renaming or replacing it with variants like “Kuki Tribe.” The organizations assert that ‘Kuki’ is not a distinct tribe, language, or cultural identity but a politicized umbrella term that threatens the legal and cultural sanctity of the ST list.

The joint memorandum and the Hmar Tlangval’s statement highlight the potential for AKT to fuel communal tension, identity fraud, and the misuse of tribal benefits. “The inclusion of AKT is constitutionally flawed, ethnographically invalid, and a threat to peaceful coexistence,” the memorandum states.