HT Correspondent
DIMAPUR, March 5: The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) on Thursday expressed strong displeasure and condemnation over the recent statement of Nagaland BJP legislator and minister Temjen Imna Along on recitation of Vande Mataram in the Nagaland legislative assembly.
In a statement, the federation said it is deeply regrettable that Along continues to justify and normalise the imposition of the Indian national song in institutions within the state despite its unequivocal opposition expressed on February 20.
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“By advocating for the normalisation of Vande Mataram within the assembly, he risks undoing what generations of Nagas have sacrificed so much to defend the preservation of our identity, our faith and our rights,” the federation stated.
It stressed that no individual or political representative has the mandate to dilute or compromise the hard-earned rights of the Naga people.
The NSF said it had earlier categorically opposed the instructions issued by the ministry of home affairs mandating playing or singing of Vande Mataram before the Indian national anthem Jana Gana Mana during specific high-level official functions and further attempting to extend such directives to educational institutions.
According to the federation, Vande Mataram carries strong and undeniable religious connotations rooted in the worship of Hindu deities.
“Any attempts to enforce or institutionalise the recitation of such a song within the Nagaland legislative assembly or any public institution in the Naga homeland directly violates the spirit and safeguards enshrined under Article 371(A), which protects the unique religious and social practices of the Naga people,” the NSF said.
It said the attempt to portray the song as purely secular and historical deliberately ignores the legitimate concerns raised by communities whose faith and cultural identity do not align with its religious imagery.
The federation said it is extremely unfortunate that Along has chosen to publicly defend such a position. It said he appears to be more concerned with pleasing his political bosses in Delhi rather than safeguarding the rights and sensitivities of the Naga people.
