Naga Students’ Federation to hold rally in Kohima against ‘compulsory’ singing of Vande Mataram

The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has announced a public rally in Kohima on March 16 to protest what it describes as the “compulsory imposition” of Vande Mataram following a directive issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) . The rally will begin at Old MLA Hostel Junction in Phoolbari at 10 am, after which participants will march to Lok Bhavan and submit a memorandum to the President of India through the governor.

The protest stems from an MHA directive of January 28, 2026 , which prescribes protocols for the observance of the national song at official functions and educational institutions. The guidelines state that when both the national song and the national anthem are performed together, Vande Mataram should be sung before Jana Gana Mana , with the audience standing in attention.

Opposition to the directive has grown in Nagaland, where the Christian-majority state has expressed concerns about the religious imagery contained in the song. The NSF has argued that such symbolism may conflict with the beliefs and conscience of many people in the state and warned that authorities should not compel cultural or ideological conformity in the Naga homeland.

The federation said the rally aims to protect the rights and conscience of Naga students and reaffirm the identity and historical consciousness of the Naga people. It has also directed all federating units and subordinate bodies across Naga areas to organise peaceful demonstrations on the same day in solidarity with the Kohima rally, including symbolic protests in educational institutions.

The controversy has also triggered a wider debate across the Northeast. Reports indicate that student groups, civil society organisations and political leaders in Nagaland and Meghalaya have raised objections to the directive, arguing that centrally mandated nationalist practices must take into account regional cultural and religious sensitivities.

The NSF said the demonstrations are intended to remain peaceful while asserting the community’s democratic right to express concern over policies that affect the cultural and political identity of the Naga people.