Kuki Inpi Welcomes Centre’s High-Level Committee on Demographic Changes

Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), the apex traditional and political body representing the Kuki people, has welcomed the Government of India’s decision to constitute a High-Level Committee on Demographic Changes, calling it a “long-overdue and decisive step” toward uncovering the truth behind demographic issues in Manipur and other border states.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, KIM expressed confidence that the committee, reportedly chaired by a retired judge and comprising eminent experts, would conduct an impartial, transparent, and data-driven investigation into demographic shifts across the country.

The apex body said the Kuki-Zo community has “nothing to fear from scrutiny” and pledged full cooperation with the committee. It stated that the panel must take into account the historical displacement, violence, and demographic disruptions faced by the Kuki-Zo people over several decades.

KIM alleged that the Kuki-Zo community had been subjected to repeated waves of ethnic violence and displacement beginning from the Naga movement of the 1950s, the ethnic clashes involving NSCN-IM in the 1990s, and the ongoing violence in Manipur since 2023. According to the organisation, these events resulted in forced migration, destruction of villages, loss of ancestral lands, and severe disruptions to livelihoods and population distribution.

The Kuki Inpi strongly rejected allegations of “illegal immigration” against the Kuki-Zo people, describing them as “fabricated narratives” propagated by vested interests to delegitimise the community’s political aspirations and justify violence against them.

“Kuki-Zo people have been victims, not perpetrators, of demographic aggression and engineered population changes,” the statement asserted.

KIM further stated that it would present documented evidence, including census records, displacement figures, and historical accounts, before the committee to substantiate its claims.

The body expressed hope that the formation of the committee would mark “the end of politically motivated disinformation” and enable the Government of India to distinguish “fact from fiction.” It also urged the committee to examine all available data without bias and ensure that its findings contribute toward protecting the ancestral lands, political rights, security, and dignity of the Kuki-Zo people.

Reiterating its commitment to peace, constitutional processes, and the integrity of the Indian Union, Kuki Inpi Manipur said it would continue to resist what it termed attempts to delegitimise the existence and rights of the Kuki-Zo community.

“The time for truth has come,” KIM said.