IMPHAL, June 23: The Thadou Inpi Manipur and the Meitei Alliance have jointly submitted a memorandum to the Union Minister of Tribal Affairs, demanding the complete removal of the category “Any Kuki Tribes” (AKT) from the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list of Manipur.

The memorandum, aligned with earlier resolutions by the Manipur state cabinet, referenced key government decisions dated October 19, 2018, and January 2, 2023. It also recalled a formal recommendation sent by the state to the Ministry on February 8, 2023, seeking the deletion of AKT under Article 342 of the Indian Constitution, which governs the specification of Scheduled Tribes.

According to the signatories, the inclusion of “Any Kuki Tribes” in the ST list in 2003 was “politically motivated” and lacked both ethnographic and constitutional justification. They asserted that the AKT category is vague, not representative of any recognized tribe, and overlaps with constitutionally acknowledged communities such as the Thadou — one of the earliest recognized tribes in Manipur, listed since 1951.

The groups argued that this ambiguity has led to duplication in tribal identification, legal confusion, and heightened ethnic tensions in the state. They further stated that no recognized native tribes in Manipur, including the Thadou, Paite, Hmar, Vaiphei, Simte, Meitei, or Naga communities, recognize AKT as a legitimate tribal category.

“The term ‘Kuki’ is a political construct, not an ethnolinguistic or culturally distinct identity,” the memorandum stated. It warned that such broad categorization has the potential to be misused — facilitating illegal immigration, exploitation of tribal benefits, and contributing to long-term social unrest.

The signatories also highlighted that colonial-era classifications such as “Any Kuki,” “Any Naga,” and “Any Lushai” were discontinued after 1956 in Manipur following comprehensive ethnographic surveys. The re-insertion of AKT in 2003, they argued, violated the established framework and lacked rigorous academic or administrative review.

Raising concerns about demographic manipulation and threats to regional security, the memorandum called for the complete deletion of AKT — not mere renaming or modification. The groups contended that such a step is essential to maintain the legal sanctity of the ST list and to protect the unique identities of Manipur’s recognized tribal communities.

The statement concluded with an appeal for urgent intervention by the Centre, emphasizing that deletion of the AKT entry would restore justice, ensure legal clarity, and help maintain peace and communal harmony in the ethnically diverse state.