NSCN-IM has said though the Tangkhul and the Meitei have common history and they are brothers of Mongoloid family, their brotherhood is confined only to Hundung village.

On 18th October 2023, during a visit to Ukhrul, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh remarked that the Meitei and Tangkhuls were brothers and said Ukhrul would be made the summer capital of the state.

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Hundung village does not apply to the whole Tangkhuls, NSCN-IM stated, explaining, “History has it that one Tangkhul brother from Hundung village went down to the present Imphal valley and settled down there to live with the Meitei community. A story also says there are cases where some Tangkhuls and other Naga tribes who were married to Kuki women settled in their land and lived with the Kuki community.”

Therefore, NSCM-IM pointed though the blood relationship of the Hundung royal family and the Meiteis, but it must be understood that “all Tangkhuls are not part of Hungdung royal family.” Individual inter-tribal marriage never means tribe-level bond when the relationship is only between the two families, it further added.

NSCN-IM also stated that Nagas must love and respect the Meiteis and the Kukis and we must live together but “on correct foundation” and “not on concocted history.”