The Nagaland Transparency, Public Rights Advocacy and Direct-Action Organisation (NTPRADAO) has pledged 200 active volunteers to support the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) in its ongoing demand concerning IAS induction, while urging the committee to “continue their pen-down strike,” claiming that “85–90% of Nagaland’s population” supports the cause but are “hesitant to openly support due to fear of repercussions.”
In a statement issued by Vice President Zuchamo Patton, Secretary General Ikato Zhimomi, Central Executive Member Temjen Mar Ao, and General Secretary Tumbeni Kithan, NTPRADAO expressed appreciation for the JCC’s “timely and wise decision to put on hold the tools-down strike scheduled from October 27, 2025.”
The organization also “highly appreciated and congratulated” the All Nagaland Government Drivers’ Association, Nagaland Civil Secretariat Drivers’ Association, All Nagaland Directorate & District Government Drivers’ Union, and the Nagaland Civil Secretariat Grade-IV Staff Employees Association for “taking a bold stand” and “extending their full support to the common cause of JCC.” NTPRADAO further appealed to these organizations to “be vigilant and ever ready to contribute towards the success of the JCC demand.”
The organization also criticized the Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF) for urging withdrawal of the pen-down strike, saying, “India is a democratic country where citizens have the right to voice their concerns and fight for justice.” NTPRADAO advised the ENSF to “focus on student-related issues and respect democratic principles,” while cautioning it against “harboring any dictatorial tendencies.”
Citing a global example, NTPRADAO stated, “The ENSF must take a leaf out of the book from even recent democracies like African Kenya, when its highly respected opposition and dissident leader Raila Odinga recently died, his state funeral was arranged in a big football stadium with 60,000 crowd, and in spite of losing five presidential elections in a row, the President led the nation in mourning-showing the beauty and grace of democracy.”
The statement also slammed a rival faction calling itself NTPRADAO (People’s Justice), led by President Mhabemo Lotha and Secretary General S. Andrew, accusing them of “unnecessarily daring against the original NTPRADAO led by President Phemching Konyak.”
“The NTPRADAO states that high offices like the IAS and administrative systems are primarily meant for service towards the people at large, contrary not for personal affairs by few vested interests according to their whims and fancies,” it said.
The organization further warned that “outright display of personal favorite and family nepotism breeds deep-rooted public distrust, and the capacity to orderly function by State apparatus crumples.” It noted that such “administrative mishaps have long-term moral, administrative and constitutional side effects,” stressing that “the public deserves a fair and merit-based public institution.”
“The regulatory and selection framework for appointment to high offices must be fully transparent and not under some invisible shadows,” the statement added.
The NTPRADAO appealed to the JCC to “stand their grounds unitedly with fervent prayers and deep conviction,” stating that “only constitutionally valid and merit-based candidates through the NPSE be selected in the empaneled list and that backdoor-regularized candidates be withdrawn.”