Morung Express News
Kohima | September 3
The Nagaland Government has informed the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) that the concerns over the Vande Mataram, the National Song of India is already under examination and urged the Federation to call off its ongoing protest over the issue.
This was informed in a letter addressed to NSF President Mteisuding Heraang from Nagaland Minister for Power and Parliamentary Affairs KG Kenye on September even as the Federation upped the ante over the issue by calling for a wider institutional boycott of invitation to the Governor.
In the letter, Kenye noted that the issue had first come up on March 2, 2026, the opening day of the eighth session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly, when the instrumental version of the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram was played during the arrival and departure of the Governor.
He said the playing of the song was in compliance with an Executive Order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, dated January 28, 2026, concerning orders relating to the National Song of India.
According to Kenye, the matter was subsequently raised by members of the Legislative Assembly and referred to the Committee to Examine the Applicability of Laws Passed by Parliament for examination and recommendations.
The committee held sittings on March 18, May 18 and June 24 and adopted its report, which was proposed to be placed before the Assembly during the ongoing session.
However, Kenye said the report was withheld following the passage of The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 by both Houses of Parliament.
The Bill is currently awaiting publication in the Gazette of India.
He said the committee had decided, as an interim measure, to withhold its report until the final outcome of the Bill was known.
“The Committee proposes to revisit the matter thereafter, 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, saying the matter was already under examination and would be revisited in light of the developments at the national level.
