Nagaland Christian Revival Church Council (NCRC) and Nagaland Tribal Hohos Coordination Committee (NTHCC) have expressed strong opposition to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) directive mandating the singing of “Vande Mataram” before the National Anthem at official events.
NCRC: Nagaland Christian Revival Church Council (NCRC) general secretary Rev. Senuto Ringa, in a statement, said that as Christians they believe in worshipping Jesus alone and therefore could not accept anything that goes against their faith. While acknowledging the patriotic sentiments associated with Vande Mataram, the council said the song’s original meaning places emphasis on the worship of deities and goddesses, which is not aligned with Christian ethics and values. It stressed that patriotism and faith must be clearly distinguished.
The council further said that imposing an alien culture on people of other religious beliefs amounted to disregard for humanity.
NCRC also applauded legislators who had expressed resentment over the directives issued by the Home Ministry (MHA) regarding the singing of Vande Mataram, and said it would continue to oppose any move to make the song mandatory in the state. NCRC also appreciated the legislators who defended the Christian faith in the Assembly.
In this regard, the council urged the Government of India to refrain from imposing such directives and instead reconsider the decision in order to uphold the principles of secularism and the sanctity of the Constitution.
NTHCC: Nagaland Tribal Hohos Coordination Committee (NTHCC), representing the apex tribal bodies of Nagaland—including the Angami Public Organisation, Ao Senden, Chakhesang Public Organisation, Lotha Hoho, Pochury Hoho, Rengma Hoho, Sümi Hoho, and Nagaland Zeliang People’s Organisation—has unequivocally rejected MHA directive mandating the singing of “Vande Mataram” before the National Anthem at high-level official functions and in educational institutions.
In a strongly worded statement, NTHCC through its media cell described any nationwide imposition of the directive—without regard for the unique historical, constitutional, and religious context of states like Nagaland—as deeply concerning.
Affirming respect for the National Anthem and the constitutional framework of the Republic of India, the committee highlighted that compulsory recitation of “Vande Mataram” raised serious religious sensitivities in Nagaland, where an overwhelming majority of the population adhered to the Christian faith.
NTHCC emphasised that Nagaland was not an ordinary administrative unit of the Union but a politically negotiated state whose relationship with India was rooted in historical agreements and special constitutional provisions that recognise the distinct identity, faith, and traditions of the Naga people.
It reminded that creation of Nagaland as a state was based on a special political arrangement acknowledging this uniqueness.
In this context, NTHCC said Article 371(A) provides explicit safeguards, stating that no Act of Parliament shall apply to Nagaland in matters relating to: religious or social practices of the Nagas
Naga customary law and procedure; administration of civil and criminal justice involving Naga customary law and ownership and transfer of land and its resources—unless the Nagaland Legislative Assembly resolves to apply it by a specific resolution.
Further, the committee asserted that any directive compelling participation in practices perceived as inconsistent with Christian religious convictions directly impinged on the sphere of religious and social practices protected under Art 371(A). It said that this safeguard, rooted in the historic 16-Point Agreement, was designed precisely to prevent centrally imposed policies from overriding Naga religious beliefs, social practices, and cultural identity.
NTHCC said it was the responsibility of all members of NLA to uphold and defend those constitutional protections. It called upon the Assembly to pass a clear and unequivocal resolution rejecting the imposition of “Vande Mataram” and to ensure that the song was neither sung nor played within the premises of the NLA.
Describing faith as an integral part of Naga social fabric and identity, NTHCC viewed mandatory singing—especially in educational institutions and official platforms—as a matter of profound religious sensitivity.
It stressed that India’s secular character must include genuine respect for the religious convictions of minority regions and communities.
Asserting India’s strength lay in its diversity and federal character, the committee said policies that disregarded the constitutional autonomy and unique identity of states like Nagaland risked undermining the spirit of cooperative federalism that the Constitution seeks to uphold.
Therefore, NTHCC urged the state government and NLA to firmly uphold Article 371(A) and outrightly reject any attempt to enforce mandatory singing of “Vande Mataram” within the state’s jurisdiction.
Reiterating Naga people’s long-standing commitment to peace, mutual respect, and democratic engagement, the committee affirmed that any policy undermining religious beliefs, constitutional protections, or the historical political understanding under which Nagaland joined the Indian Union cannot and would not be accepted.
Meanwhile, NTHCC called upon the Government of India to exercise greater sensitivity and respect toward Nagaland’s unique constitutional status, faith, and cultural identity, and to refrain from measures inconsistent with India’s pluralistic and federal democratic framework.
The committee reaffirmed its stand in defending the constitutional rights, faith, and traditions of the Naga people.