Advisor Achumbemo Kikon has appealed to the NSF to call off its agitation against mandatory playing of Vande Mataram, assuring that the Nagaland government will address the issue appropriately.
Read below: KG Kenye says issue ‘hyper-sensitive’
KOHIMA — Advisor Achumbemo Kikon has appealed to the Naga Students' Federation (NSF) to call off its agitation against the mandatory playing of Vande Mataram at official events, assuring that the government has taken cognisance of the gravity of the issue and the sentiments of the people and that the matter would be addressed appropriately at the right forum.
Kikon, a former president of the NSF, made the appeal during Zero Hour on the concluding day of the ninth session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) on Thursday, amid the NSF’s two-day protest outside the Assembly.
The NSF has been demanding that the Assembly pass a resolution opposing the proposed mandatory playing or singing of the national song at public and private events.
Kikon said the government had taken serious note of views expressed by the Church, civil society organisations, tribal bodies and, most importantly, the NSF.
“We have received backlash from various strata of our society across generations, both young and old, and as responsible leaders, we are conscious of the sentiments of our people,” he said.
Related: NSF puts Nagaland governor on guest-list blacklist over Vande Mataram
He said the issue had earlier been referred to a committee to examine the applicability of the central law in Nagaland in the context of Article 371A of the Constitution.
The committee, headed by Parliamentary Affairs Minister KG Kenye, had been examining the matter and was expected to submit its report during the current session of the Assembly.
However, Parliament’s enactment of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Act, 2026, and the subsequent publication of the official Gazette on August 6 necessitated further legal examination.
Kikon said the committee had therefore deferred presentation of its report after its chairperson informed the members about the need for further legal opinion.
He also said the government had been in consultations with various stakeholders, including the BJP, an alliance partner in the state government. He noted that Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton, who holds the Home portfolio, had also held a series of consultations on the issue.
“In this context, I appeal to the NSF to call off their agitation because the government has taken cognisance of the gravity of the situation and the sentiments of our people.
This will be addressed appropriately at the right time,” Kikon said, assuring that the concerns of the NSF would be addressed at the appropriate forum.
KG Kenye says issue ‘hyper-sensitive’
Parliamentary Affairs Minister KG Kenye described the issue as contentious and “hyper-sensitive”, particularly in the context of Article 371A and its implications for certain constitutional provisions.
Kenye informed the House that the committee had met twice in May and June and was fully prepared to table its report during the current session.
However, he said that in the meantime, the President of India had given assent to the amendment bill passed by both Houses of Parliament.
The minister said the committee would examine the amended law once an official copy was received and would thereafter place its findings before the Assembly at the earliest possible opportunity.
The NLA had referred the Vande Mataram issue to the committee during its budget session in March after several legislators raised objections to mandatory singing or playing of the national song during government programmes.
The issue arose following an administrative instruction issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on January 28, 2026, to chief secretaries of states regarding the compulsory singing of Vande Mataram during the arrival of important VVIPs at national functions, as well as during the arrival of governors.
Kikon said the instruction had also resulted in the song being played in instrumental form during the Governor’s arrival at the Assembly.
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