Don't tag ‘In defence of our ancestral land and freedom’ : TNL

Mungchan Zimik
Ukhrul, Oct 7 : Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) has sternly warned Kuki chiefs in Tangkhul areas to desist from erecting memorial stones with the inscription "In defence of our ancestral land and freedom".
In a statement TNL said that an open letter was served to all Kuki chiefs in the name of Tangkhul Naga Long that TNL has no objection to the endeavour to commemorate the Anglo-Kuki war 1917-19 on Oct 17, 2019.
However TNL strongly objects and opposes the commemoration by erecting memorial stones in all the Kuki villages with the inscription " in defence of our ancestral land and freedom ".
TNL further claimed that there was not even a single Kuki village in Tangkhul land during the period 1917-19.
The statement also mentioned that the Kuki community in Manipur particularly residing in Tangkhul areas are not indigenous people and have been paying refugee allowances as late as 1968.
Kuki villages in Tangkhul areas were paying "loushal or Kannan" taxes to the Tangkhul village headmen for cultivation and settlement in the land under Tangkhul Naga village ownership as loyalty tax, alleged TNL.
TNL urged the Kuki brethren to refrain and  stop the erection of memorial stone with the said inscription for peaceful co-existence.
The statement also warned that if the sentiments of Tangkhul community is hurt, it might simply provoke social tension between the two communities.