Three youth bodies shun Naga Youth Movement Kohima dharna

Three youth bodies shun Naga Youth Movement Kohima dharna

The AYO bars all Angamis from the sit-in, while the CYF and PYO bar members from taking part in their organisations’ name, ahead of Wednesday’s event.

KOHIMA – Three of Nagaland’s major tribal youth organisations have told their members to stay away from a sit-in dharna that the Naga Youth Movement (NYM) plans to hold at Lok Bhavan in Kohima on Wednesday, 28 October 2026.

The Angami Youth Organisation (AYO), the Chakhesang Youth Front (CYF) and the Pochury Youth Organisation (PYO) issued separate notices between 25 and 27 October. The AYO went furthest, directing that no member of the Angami community take part. The CYF and the PYO asked members and units not to join in the name of their organisations.

AYO: ‘No citizen from Angami Community shall participate’

In a directive dated 27 October (Ref. No. AYO-GS/C-05/2026), the AYO said a “self-styled organization” called the Naga Youth Movement, which also uses the name “Fed Up Nagas“, was organising the sit-in at Lok Bhavan.

Describing the plan as a “proposed obscure activity by some self-vested group of people,” the AYO directed: “No citizen from Angami Community shall participate in the said dharna.”

The directive, signed by AYO president Petevito Nakhro and general secretary Vipu Zashümo, also urged the organisation’s range officials “to be vigilant and monitor the situation in case of any eventuality created by this gathering.” Copies were sent to the presidents of SAYO, NAYO, WAYO and CYO, the AYO’s range youth bodies, for circulation to all village youth bodies.

CYF: no participation ‘in an official capacity’

The Chakhesang Youth Front advised its members not to take part in the gathering “under the banner or representation of the CYF or any of its constituent units,” Nagaland Post reported from Dimapur on 25 October.

According to the paper, CYF president Kevesa Khamo and vice president Vetho Vadeo said members were expected to “exercise due discretion and maintain organisational discipline in matters having an organisational bearing.” No member or unit should participate in or represent the CYF at the gathering in an official capacity, they said.

The advisory was issued to keep the CYF and its units in line “with the decisions and mandate of the Chakhesang public,” the report said.

PYO: matters with ‘wider implications’

The Pochury Youth Organisation, headquartered in Meluri, issued a press release through its media cell on 26 October. It asked all members and constituent units to refrain from joining the NYM gathering “in the name or official capacity of the Pochury Youth Organisation or any of its constituent units.” Also Read Angami Public Organisation Sets Deadlines to Restrict Employment, Services and Rental to ‘Illegal Immigrants’

The PYO said members must uphold “the principles of the organisation discipline and collective responsibility, particularly in matters that may have wider implications for the Organization and the community it represents.”

The advisory, it said, was meant to preserve unity and discipline and to ensure that the organisation’s position “remain consistent with the collective decisions and mandate of the Pochury community.”

What the notices do and do not say

The three notices differ in reach. The AYO directive applies to the whole Angami community. The CYF and PYO advisories, which use closely similar wording, are aimed at participation in their organisations’ name or official capacity, and do not expressly bar members from attending as individuals.

None of the notices states what the NYM sit-in is about, and none gives a specific reason for opposing it beyond organisational discipline and community mandate. The NYM’s response to the advisories was not immediately available.

Lok Bhavan, formerly known as Raj Bhavan, is the official residence of the Governor of Nagaland in Kohima.