The Nagaland Joint Christian Forum has rejected the Ministry of Home Affairs directive on Vande Mataram, calling it an imposition that violates religious conscience and secular principles.
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DIMAPUR — Even as the Nagaland Legislative Assembly has referred the contentious Vande Mataram issue to a Select Committee following objections from legislators, the Nagaland Joint Christian Forum (NJCF) on Wednesday came out strongly against the Centre’s directive, rejecting what it called an imposition that violates religious conscience and the constitutional principle of secularism.
In a press release, the NJCF stated that it was “perturbed” by instructions of the Ministry of Home Affairs directing all states and Union territories to sing the national song Vande Mataram at all official functions, including in schools and institutions.
While acknowledging the patriotic sentiment associated with the song, the forum pointed out that certain elements in its content were “averse to Christian faith and principles”, making it unacceptable to impose in a Christian-majority state like Nagaland.
Also read: Vande Mataram row: Nagaland Legislative Assembly refers issue to Select Committee after objections
Nagaland cannot compromise its religious ideology by adhering to such directives, the NJCF stated, asserting that secularism, as enshrined in the Preamble of the Constitution, must be upheld “in letter and spirit”.
The forum’s intervention comes amid an ongoing political and public debate in the state after the playing of Vande Mataram ahead of the national anthem during a recent Assembly session triggered objections from several MLAs, prompting the House to refer the matter to a Select Committee for examination.
Read more: ‘Cultural Imposition’: Naga Students’ Federation opposes Vande Mataram directive
The NJCF stated that patriotism could not be measured through coercion and maintained that matters of faith were a question of conscience.
It argued that forcing citizens—particularly children—to sing a song that conflicts with their religious beliefs infringes upon religious freedom.
“We are not opposed to the patriotic song, but as a Christian-majority society we will not allow our children to chant something that defies their faith and allegiance to the Almighty,” the statement read, adding that Vande Mataram could not be forced upon those who do not share the belief system from which it originates.
“Only those whose conscience is dead will submit to such thing and at this stage when the government of the day has come up with divisive policies from time to time, the NJCF will stand guard against those intentions and policies of the day.
“The government should have a better sense of this and not create confusion and disobedience through forceful act,” it stated.
Maintaining that the National Anthem alone was sufficient to foster unity, the forum said that nothing should come before or after it in the name of nationalism.
Appealing to the government of India to respect the rights of religious minorities, the NJCF highlighted that minority communities had contributed equally to the nation’s social fabric.
It urged the authorities to reconsider the directive to ensure the religious freedom of all citizens and respect the sentiments of the Naga people.
Clarifying that it did not seek to demean the spirit in which Vande Mataram was composed, the forum reasoned that admiration for the composer’s patriotism could not justify imposing the song on unwilling communities.
Calling for tolerance, it urged the authorities to refrain from policies that could deepen religious and cultural divides.
It also appreciated some legislators who had defended the Christian faith during the Assembly discussion and encouraged them to continue doing so in the future.
On February 20, the Naga Students’ Federation had opposed the Centre’s directive, terming it a ‘cultural imposition.'