The NSF on Tuesday staged an emergency sit in protest at NSF Solidarity Park, Kohima, against the candidature of a non-indigenous candidate under the Nagaland state quota for NEET 2025. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Kohima | August 19
The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) on Tuesday staged an emergency sit in protest at NSF Solidarity Park, Kohima, against the candidature of a non-indigenous candidate under the Nagaland state quota for NEET 2025.
The protest began with a march from NSF Solidarity Part to the Directorate of Technical Education, where a short programme was held with participation from federating units and students from various institutions.
“The Nagaland state quota is strictly and exclusively reserved for indigenous Naga candidates, as per existing policies and constitutional safeguards for Scheduled Tribes,” the NSF said in a statement.
The candidate in question, with All India Rank 113803 and Nagaland State Rank Category III, has listed a Kohima address based on her father's posting but hails from Haryana.
NSF president Medovi Rhi, addressing the gathering, said the federation strongly objected to the candidature in question. “We are very discouraged to see non-locals, to see someone trying to snatch away our seats that are allocated to Nagaland state inhabitants,” he said.
“It’s our land, it’s our right and it’s our future, and I want to convey this message to the rest of our Naga community that our future cannot be decided by outsiders,” Rhi asserted. He appealed to all sections of society to stand with the NSF, clarifying that the agitation was not against any individual but to protect the rights of the indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland.
Rhi reiterated that permitting ineligible candidature would deprive deserving indigenous Naga students of their rightful opportunities and set a “dangerous precedent” for misuse of temporary postings and affiliations, undermining the intent of the state quota policy.
“I don’t know where the candidate has pursued her studies, but I feel they are not ST or indigenous Naga inhabitants. An outsider cannot judge the future of our Naga community and younger generation,” Rhi said.
He added that “one good person alone” cannot carry the movement forward, calling for collective support to defend the rights of students.
Rhi further informed that another hearing on the matter has been scheduled for September 3, and asserted that the NSF “will never allow the individual to collect the nominee.” He urged the state government to appeal the matter to a higher court.
The NSF president thanked students, federating units, the All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) and medical students for their support and solidarity during the protest.
