An influential students’ organisation in Nagaland has asked educational institutions not to send students to participate in Independence Day celebrations this weekend, during which the complete version of the national song Vande Mataram will be sung.
“India as a secular democratic republic, its Constitution guarantees freedom of conscience and freedom of religion. The NSF is an apex youth body that seeks to safeguard student interests and advocates for Naga solidarity across Nagaland, Manipur, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh. No student should therefore be compelled to participate in any religiously sensitive expression contrary to his or her sincerely held beliefs,” the NSF said.
“Accordingly, all Federating Units and Sub-ordinate Bodies are notified to enforce this position to concerned schools and institutions within their respective jurisdictions and to ensure that no student is subjected to disciplinary action, discrimination, intimidation or academic consequences for declining to participate in Vande Mataram on grounds of conscience or religious belief,” the directive said.
