Dimapur: The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), in pursuance of its position against the compulsory playing of the revised Vande Mataram in government programmes and official functions, on Thursday directed all educational institutions and affiliated bodies across the Naga homeland not to include or invite any government functionaries, including the Governor of Nagaland, as a guest or invitee in programmes and functions that involve singing or playing of Vande Mataram, until further directions.
In a statement, the student body asked all its federating units and subordinate bodies to communicate this directive and ensure strict compliance.
It also directed its units and bodies to ensure that the directive is duly complied with by institutions and that necessary steps are taken for its implementation.
The NSF continued its protest outside the Nagaland Assembly in Kohima for the second day on Thursday, staging a “singing revolution” against the proposed imposition of Vande Mataram.
Addressing reporters, NSF president Mteisuding expressed disappointment at the state government’s inaction on the first day of the Assembly session, calling on the public to unite in defending their rights and faith.
However, later in the day, the federation said its first phase of peaceful demonstration during the two-day Nagaland Assembly session, which ended on Thursday, had been kept in abeyance.
The decision followed the communiqué addressed to the NSF president by the parliamentary affairs minister and chairperson of the Committee to Examine the Applicability of Laws Passed by Parliament on Thursday evening, seeking additional time to submit the committee’s report on the matter.
The committee assured that the collective views and sentiments of the Naga people would be duly taken into consideration.
The NSF demanded that the Assembly pass a resolution against the mandatory singing of the national song.
The federation reiterated its demand for the adoption of a strong resolution in the Assembly against the imposition of the revised Vande Mataram.
“Should no such resolution be adopted, the federation shall intensify the next mode of democratic agitation,” it warned.