The Tangkhul Naga Long – Working Committee has welcomed the bold declaration by the Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh for the free movement on National Highways. However, it also warned that, the Kemchand-led ministry is so quick to reach out to the Kukis and showered a dole of schemes and developments at the mere hiccups of the Kukis- who has all this while playing the victim card. On the other hand, the extended demands of the Tangkhul Nagas in respect of various development-gap sectors including Health, Education, Road and other Infrastructures, remain unfortunately on the deaf ear of the government.
The statement issued by the Media Cell, Working Committee, TNL stated that “the Chief Minister of Manipur Yumnam Khemchand Singh has categorically made an official announcement of reopening the National Highways for free movement of all communities in the State during his visit to the Kangpokpi Headquarters on Saturday the 8th of August 2026. The bold declaration by the State government is a welcoming move for the conflict ridden people since the year 2023.
“In this regard, the Working Committee of the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) would like to pat on CM’s shoulders for the resolute decision taken by his Ministry, and remains firm on our faith that the promise made to the people must be realised to instil confidence among the people. However, there are scores of pertinent questions that need to be answered by the present political dispensation. The Tangkhul Naga community is committed to the common interest of the Nagas in Manipur. Since the beginning of this violent conflict, the Nagas had placed certain demands in greater interest of restoring lasting peace and normalcy within the State. Nevertheless, the governments are yet to respond to the following charter of demands raised over the months by the Tangkhul Naga community aligning with the common cause and desire of the Manipur’s Nagas in general:
1. To immediately stop militarization of the Naga inhabited areas and withdraw all the deployed central armed/security forces there from;
2. No “separate homeland/administrative arrangement” shall be carved out in favour of the Kukis within the Naga ancestral homeland;
3. To identify all the Kuki refugees and rehabilitate them somewhere outside the State of Manipur;
4. To identify all the illegal Kuki immigrants within the State of Manipur and deport them to the countries of their origin;
5. To relocate all the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) away from the Naga inhabited areas;
6. To abrogate the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement with the Kuki militants;
7. To ensure that no territory within India is used by the Kuki immigrants as safe haven for running poppy-drug cartel;
8. To instruct the State Government of Manipur to ensure that all the unrecognized and illegal Kuki settlements/villages/machets/hamlets are immediately evicted along with cancellation of all the illegal Touzis/Pattas and that no fresh and separate permit/Touzi/Patta shall henceforth be issued for any new Kuki settlement;
9. To deliver justice for the ambush carried out near TM Kasom near Litan Police. Station, which results in killing two innocent Tangkhul Nagas, and
10. To deliver justice for abduction and murder of six (6) Liangmai Nagas at Leilon Vaiphei village, Kangpokpi.
“Whereas, the Kemchand-led ministry is so quick to reach out to the Kukis and showered a dole of schemes and developments at the mere hiccups of the Kukis- who has all this while playing the victim card. On the other hand, the extended demands of the Tangkhul Nagas in respect of various development-gap sectors including Health, Education, Road and other Infrastructures, remain unfortunately on the deaf ear of the government. This reflects the biased treatment of the present government towards the Nagas in the State.
“The Working Committee of TNL reaffirms its resolute stand that if the government desires to usher in peace and normalcy within the State, the government of Manipur and the New Delhi must take the CHARTER OF DEMANDS apprised in various memoranda by the Naga CSOs over the past months in all earnest and fulfil them accordingly” added the statement issued by the Media Cell, Working Committee, TNL.
