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Naga peace talks elevated to ministerial level, says CM Rio; students skip I-Day
Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio said MHA has formed a ministerial-level panel to lead Naga peace talks, while students skipped I-Day events over Vande Mataram.
Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio on Saturday said the decades-old Naga peace process has been elevated to the ministerial level, with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) constituting a committee headed by a Union minister of state (MoS) to lead the talks, even as student parade contingents stayed away from Independence Day celebrations in the state over the mandatory singing of Vande Mataram at official events.
Addressing the people of the state on the occasion of the 80th Independence Day at the Secretariat Plaza in Kohima, the chief minister said while Nagaland takes pride in the collective accomplishments as a people over the decades, the state is mindful of the long-standing Naga political issue, which has remained unresolved.
“Our people yearn for an early solution,” Rio said.
He said the state cabinet met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in February to convey the wishes of the Naga people to elevate the peace talks to the highest political level by appointing an interlocutor of political or ministerial level, who has the confidence and mandate of the government.
“As assured by the Union Home Minister in the meeting, a Committee under the Chairmanship of Minister of State for Home Affairs, Government of India has been recently constituted to lead the Naga peace talks. We are grateful to the Government of India for responding to the request of our people and civil societies for elevating the ongoing dialogue and peace process to the ministerial level by constituting the Committee,” Rio added.
He expressed that the people look forward to the Government of India reaching out further to all the negotiating parties with urgency and clarity, to ensure that everyone comes together to enable the newly constituted panel to commence its work in right earnest in effectively fulfilling its mandate.
“The state government reaffirms its commitment to continue playing the role of an active facilitator in the peace process for the realization of our long cherished dream of an honourable and acceptable solution (to the protracted political issue) at the earliest possible,” the chief minister maintained.
Meanwhile, the Independence Day celebrations in the state were marked by the absence of student parade contingents, following a directive issued by the influential Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), which raised concerns over the mandatory singing of the full version of the National Song — Vande Mataram — at official functions.
According to the student body, Naga people have no objection to the celebration of India’s Independence Day or to showing due respect to the National Flag, National Anthem and other national symbols, but its concern lies with the compulsory participation of students in Vande Mataram, particularly where its devotional and religious imagery conflicts with the conscience and sincerely held beliefs of students belonging to non-Hindu communities.
The federation has been opposing the January 2026 MHA directive mandating that the National Song be sung or played before the National Anthem during official functions and at educational institutions. The student body’s contention is that such a directive should not be imposed on schools, educational institutions and students.
