# Nagaland church body opposes mandatory Vande Mataram singing 2026-08-14T23:17:31+00:00 | India | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 3 independent outlets The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) has said it will oppose any directive that makes singing Vande Mataram compulsory, especially for Christians, ahead of the 80th Independence Day celebrations. The Defence Ministry announced that Vande Mataram will be rendered at the Red Fort complex on August 15 for the first time, marking 150 years of the national song. The NBCC said it respects national symbols but argued that patriotism cannot be measured by compulsory conformity, and urged dialogue and restraint. The Naga Students’ Federation has called on schools not to send students to Independence Day programmes and said those refusing to sing on grounds of conscience should not face action. The NBCC appealed to all stakeholders to remain peaceful and warned against communal tension. India’s constitutional framework is based on liberty and pluralism, the church body said, and unity should not be confused with uniformity. ## Coverage - thefederal.com - thehindu.com - assamtribune.com Tags: Centre, Naga Students Federation, Nagaland, Nagaland Baptist Church Council, Vande Mataram Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/nagaland-baptist-church-council-opposes-mandatory-vande-mataram/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/nagaland-baptist-church-council-opposes-mandatory-vande-mataram/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.