The Working Committee of the Naga National Political Groups (WC, NNPGS) issued a press release on Thursday stating that it “believes all Nagas, both in villages and towns, in Nagaland state and beyond, have a responsibility to respond to the call of NPAC for a shutdown.”

Describing the state-wide bandh on 14 January that was called by the Naga People’s Action Committee (NPAC) as “another surging wave of Naga people’s resentment against GoI’s inordinate delay in delivering negotiated political solution to the Naga people,” the WC, NNPGs stated that the Naga people want an “honorable and acceptable political solution.”

The bandh is a reminder to “the GoI political leadership to fulfil its commitment to the Naga people,” stated the Media Cell of the WC, NNPGs, and added: “It is also a mighty slap on the state government for its positive words on air and treacherous actions on the ground.”

In the press release, the WC, NNPGs further stated that the bandh would be “a firm democratic nudge to GoI” so that the “voice of sanity” can prevail over “imposters’ whispers” and the GoI can take notice of the “demand for political solution and not elections.”

It asserted that 14 January would be the day “to reclaim the moral right, spiritual right, democratic right, social right, political right, historical right through collective conscience.”

The WC, NNPGs concluded the press release with these words:

“Anti-Naga solution elements may oppose the shutdown or remain unresponsive to the clarion call but Nagas must ignore those in political slumber or pretending to be asleep.”