Guwahati, April 12 -- The Meitei Heritage Welfare Foundation has strongly condemned a statement issued by six Chin-Kuki groups on April 9, warning Meiteis against undertaking their annual pilgrimage to the sacred Thangjing Ching (hill), terming it unconstitutional and provocative.

In a statement released on Friday, the foundation likened the threat to preventing Hindus from visiting Kailash Parbat or Muslims from undertaking the Hajj, stressing that the pilgrimage to the hilltop shrine of Ibudhou Thangjing, the guardian deity of the mountains, has been an unbroken tradition since ancient times.

The foundation alleged that Chin-Kuki militants have, in recent years, tried to obstruct Meiteis from accessing hilltop temples, leading to esca...