Dimapur: The Naga Students Federation (NSF) has asked its federating units and subordinate bodies to ensure that schools and educational institutions within their respective jurisdictions do not send students to participate in the Independence Day programmes, voicing its opposition to Centre’s order for mandatory playing or singing of the revised version of the national song Vande Mataram at official events.In a notification dated Aug 12, the NSF also directed its units to ensure that students who decline to sing Vande Mataram on grounds of conscience or religious beliefs do not face disciplinary action, discrimination, intimidation or other consequences.The federation, however, reiterated that the Naga people had no objection to celebrating India’s Independence Day or showing due respect to the national flag, national anthem and other national symbols.“Our concern is solely with the compulsory participation of students in Vande Mataram, particularly where its devotional and religious imagery conflict with the conscience and sincerely held beliefs of students belonging to non-Hindu communities,” the notification said.The NSF said as India is a secular democratic republic whose Constitution guarantees freedom of conscience and freedom of religion, no student should be compelled to participate in a religiously sensitive expression contrary to his or her sincerely held beliefs.The federation said it had earlier outrightly rejected the Jan 28 communication from Union ministry of home affairs concerning the playing, singing and popularisation of Vande Mataram, which raised concern among the Naga people. It also invoked the constitutional safeguards guaranteed to Nagaland under Article 371A, particularly those relating to the religious and social practices of the Nagas.
