Muted R-Day celebrations in Nagaland as people shun event

The 70th Republic Day celebration remained a low-key affair in Nagaland amid a boycott call given by prominent organisations over the controversial

Citizenship Bill.

The student community and the general public at large abstained from participating in the celebrations, which left the venues empty.

Naga student bodies and Yung Aung-led National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) had urged the public to stay away from the Republic Day celebrations.

The organisations claimed that the Bill, once passed by the Rajya Sabha, could hurt the interests of Nagaland. Besides, their boycott call was also to express solidarity with other northeastern states who have been protesting against the Bill.

Even the presence of government employees was sparse as the seating area marked for 'Administrative Heads of Departments' and 'Heads of Departments' at the main celebrations at Secretariat Plaza here remained vacant.

Unfurling the tricolour in the presence of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, ...