UKHRUL: The Kuki Students’ Organisation General Headquarters (KSO-GHQ) has raised concerns over recent remarks made by Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, Member of Parliament, who questioned the “relevance and existence of the Hill Areas Committee in the Manipur Legislative Assembly.”
According to the KSO-GHQ, Akoijam fails to “appreciate the constitutional and historical rationale behind the creation of the Hill Areas Committee under Article 371C of the Constitution of India.” The organisation stated that such protections are not anomalies but part of a broader constitutional design safeguarding customary laws and land rights.
Referring to several constitutional provisions, including Article 371 of the Constitution of India, which safeguards the customary laws and rights of the people of Nagaland, Article 371G of the Constitution of India providing similar protections to Mizoram, as well as Article 371B of the Constitution of India and Article 244A of the Constitution of India addressing the unique political and administrative realities of tribal areas in Assam, the KSO-GHQ reiterated that these provisions reflect the constitutional recognition that the identity, land, and governance systems of indigenous peoples must be protected.
The organisation noted that when Manipur attained statehood in 1972, the inclusion of Article 371C was necessary since land falls under the State List. Without such safeguards, it said, the customary land ownership systems of hill tribes could “easily be overridden by legislative majoritarianism.”
Emphasising the collective ownership and governance of land under customary tribal institutions, the KSO-GHQ underscored the importance of the Hill Areas Committee and the consent of elected representatives from Scheduled Tribe communities. It warned that “any attempt to dilute, question, or delegitimise this constitutional safeguard raises serious concerns about the intent behind such statements.”
The organisation further stressed that the matter is not confined to the interests of a single community but concerns all indigenous tribal peoples inhabiting the hill districts of Manipur. It stated that experience has repeatedly shown that when it comes to issues of tribal rights and protections in the state, political affiliations often become secondary, with Meitei political positions across parties frequently converging on matters relating to tribal land and rights.
At a time when inter-community relations in Manipur remain fragile, the KSO-GHQ said it is irresponsible for public leaders to make statements that create confusion or cast doubt on constitutional protections meant to safeguard tribal interests, warning that such remarks only deepen mistrust and undermine efforts toward stability and mutual respect.
The organisation therefore called upon Dr. Angomcha Bimol Akoijam and the Indian National Congress to issue an immediate clarification on their position regarding the constitutional safeguards for the hill areas, the customary land ownership systems of tribal communities, and the implications of extending Scheduled Tribe status to communities outside the recognised tribal groups of Manipur.
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Reaffirming its stance, the KSO-GHQ stated that it remains committed to defending the constitutional rights, ancestral land, and identity of the tribal peoples of Manipur, asserting that these rights are not concessions granted by political authorities but the rightful inheritance of indigenous communities, and will be protected with unity, vigilance, and resolve.