NSF directs Nagaland institutions and constituent bodies not to invite Governor Nand Kishore Yadav amid escalating Vande Mataram protest
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KOHIMA — The Naga Students' Federation (NSF) has taken its Vande Mataram protest up a notch, directing institutions and its constituent bodies across Nagaland not to invite the Governor Nand Kishore Yadav to their programmes.
The directive came on Thursday as the NSF concluded the second day of its peaceful demonstration at the Nagaland Legislative Assembly gate, even as the state government urged the federation to call off its ongoing protest.
NSF president Mteisuding Heraang and vice president Vimeyiekho Vitso announced the decision at a press conference at the federation’s office, describing the move as part of its “next phase of agitation”.
The federation has directed educational institutions, its federating units and subordinate bodies not to invite the governor to any programme or event.
Mteisuding clarified that the directive was not aimed at the governor personally. He said the decision was taken because Vande Mataram is played as part of protocol when the governor attends official programmes.
Also read: NSF demands Assembly resolution against ‘Vande Mataram’ in Nagaland
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“Wherever the governor goes, as per protocol, Vande Mataram has to be played,” he said, explaining that avoiding invitations would allow organisations to refrain from playing or singing the song.
The NSF also appealed to civil organisations and tribal bodies to refrain from inviting the governor, while urging him not to interpret the move as an insult but to understand the sentiments behind it.
The federation reiterated that it would not compromise on the issue and would continue its agitation until the state government takes a stand against the playing or singing of Vande Mataram by passing a resolution or bill in the Assembly.
The second day of the protest at the Assembly gate concluded peacefully with protesters singing gospel and hymnal songs as part of what the NSF termed a “singing revolution”.
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According to Mteisuding, the state government had submitted a letter to the NSF through Parliamentary Affairs Minister KG Kenye, citing “complications and limitations” and informing the federation that a committee had been constituted to examine the legal aspects of the matter.
The NSF, however, rejected the government's position, maintaining that the imposition of Vande Mataram was unacceptable to the people of Nagaland because of what it described as religious references in the lyrics.
Govt. asks NSF to call off protest
In his letter to the NSF president, Kenye stated that the instrumental version of the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram was played on the arrival and departure of the governor on March 2, the first day of the Eighth Session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly, in compliance with an executive order issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on January 28, 2026.
The matter was subsequently raised by members of the House and referred to a committee to examine the applicability of laws passed by Parliament and make recommendations, the letter stated.
The committee held sittings on March 18, May 18 and June 24 and adopted its report, which was proposed to be laid before the Assembly during the ongoing session.
However, following the passage of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, by both Houses of Parliament, the report was not presented to the House and has been withheld pending publication of the Bill in the Gazette of India.
The committee proposes to revisit the matter after the final outcome of the Bill is known, taking into consideration the collective views and sentiments of the people of Nagaland, Kenye stated. In view of these developments, the minister appealed to the NSF to call off its ongoing protest.
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