Guwahati, Aug. 16 -- The 80th celebration of India's independence on August 15, 2026, is themed "150 Years of Vande Mataram" and "Yuva Shakti for Viksit Bharat@2047". In Nagaland, the Naga Students' Federation and all its federating student bodies boycotted the Independence Day celebrations and asked students not to participate in the celebrations because of the compulsory rendition of "Vande Mataram". The Nagaland Baptist Churches Council has also opposed the same. It is strongly felt here that the directive for the compulsory rendition of the song at all government programmes violates the freedom of religion and secularism enshrined in the Indian Constitution. Nagaland is a Christian-majority state. Article 371(A) of the Indian Constitu...