Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM) has congratulated Nemcha Kipgen on her historic appointment as Deputy Chief Minister of Manipur, noting she is the first member of the Thadou tribe to hold this position. However, TIM expressed concerns over her alignment with Kuki-centric narratives that could be seen as promoting separatist and supremacist ideologies since May 2023. They asserted that Kipgen, a Thadou Tribe certificate holder elected from a general seat, must disassociate from Kuki organizations and movements to maintain her constitutional integrity.
TIM emphasized that the Suspension of Operations (SoO) Agreement, protecting Manipur’s territorial integrity, requires Kipgen to uphold its principles without ambiguity, especially given her ties to the Kuki National Front, a signatory of the agreement. They urged against any actions that could foster disunity or promote Kuki exclusivism, asserting that her identity should clearly align with the Thadou community and not Kuki ideology.
The organization called on Kipgen to reject Kuki political identity and support Thadou rights amid Kuki supremacist elements, adhering strictly to the SoO Agreement and resisting demands for Separate Administration or Union Territory that may threaten Manipur’s integrity. TIM insisted that any political negotiations must adhere to the framework of the Constitution of India without compromising Manipur’s state integrity, underscoring her constitutional responsibilities and public accountability as Deputy Chief Minister.