Kohima, March 13 (MExN): The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has announced it will organise a mass public rally in Kohima on March 16 to protest the central government’s recent directive making the singing of the revised national song, ‘Vande Mataram’, compulsory at official functions and educational institutions.
In a circular issued to all its Federating Units and Subordinate Bodies, the NSF expressed “deep concern” over the implications of the Ministry of Home Affairs’ notification dated January 28, 2026, within the Naga homeland.
The federation criticised the directive as a “compulsory imposition” and stated that the rally aims to uphold the democratic principle that “the conscience and will of the people must be respected in any administrative directive affecting the concerned populace.”
According to the NSF, the protest is intended to protect the rights of Naga students, reaffirm the “distinct identity, beliefs and historical consciousness of the Naga people,” and demonstrate unity in safeguarding their rights and dignity.
In solidarity with the central rally in Kohima, the NSF has directed all its units across the Naga homeland to organise peaceful demonstrations at their respective headquarters on March 16. Educational institutions under their jurisdictions have also been instructed to observe symbolic and peaceful demonstrations on the same day.
The federation has requested all units to submit pictorial and video documentation of the demonstrations within their jurisdiction to the office of the Federation for record and documentation purposes.
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