The protest by the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) against the alleged imposition of the singing of Vande Mataram entered its second day on Thursday, with student leaders and supporters staging a Democratic singing revolution outside the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) gate in Kohima.

The protesters, including student leaders, were seen singing gospel songs as part of what the NSF described as a peaceful and democratic form of protest. The federation asserts that the Naga people should not be compelled to participate in the singing of Vande Mataram.

Addressing the media outside NLA gate, NSF Mteisuding Heraang said the federation was opposed to what it described as the imposition of Vande Mataram and maintained that the Naga people would not accept such a move.

“We are here against the imposition of Vande Mataram. The Naga people are not going to accept it,” Heraang said, calling upon the Naga people to come forward and stand for their rights and faith.

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He said the NSF was disappointed that no decision had been taken by the government during the first day of the Assembly session, but expressed hope that the issue would be discussed and addressed on the second day.

Heraang said the NSF would not draw conclusions based solely on the first day’s proceedings and expected a positive response from the government during the ongoing session.

“If the government fails to address the issue of the Naga people, then the Naga Students’ Federation will not shy away from intensifying our movement,” he said.

While emphasising that the present agitation was democratic and peaceful, he warned that the federation could resort to a more intensified form of agitation if the issue remained unaddressed.

The NSF’s protest comes amid growing opposition from sections of Naga civil society to any perceived compulsion to sing or play Vande Mataram, particularly on grounds concerning religious freedom and individual choice.

Meanwhile Member of Parliament, Supongmeren Jamir, who is also former General Secretary of the NSF, today, visited the peaceful demonstration site outside NLA Gate, and expressed his solidarity with the sentiments of the Naga people. He further conveyed to take up the matter with the Government of India.