Peace activist Niketu Iralu, who was the speaker on the occasion, said, "Although I believe most Nagas today do believe the journey is right and important for the Nagas, many are rightly confused and plainly angry it has become so divided and destructive to itself and the people for whom it was launched in the first place. Unhappy questioning of the legacy of the journey, meaning the struggle, is becoming stronger than appreciation for it."

Citing historical references, Iralu added: "The Naga struggle was something the Nagas had never done before. Their struggle ran into economic, political, historical, philosophical, moral and ethical issues they had not anticipated, given the brevity of their modern history. The tragedy beyond our human wisdom to deal with has been our failure to acknowledge our mistakes but becoming so loud in our accusation and blaming of others for their mistakes due to our ego, pride, selfishness and ambition which have become more important than the larger vision of our struggle.”

While saying that India is not to be blamed, Iralu maintained, "India also cannot blame the Nagas and treat their struggle as secessionist troublemaking because they had made their position abundantly, legally, politically clear before the British whom they had fought, left their empire in South Asia of which the Nagas were a part.”

Earlier, Nagaland commissioner M Patton, through a letter dated August 13, addressed all district commissioners said that the hoisting of Naga National flag by students could create "unwanted situation and may lead to grievous law and order problem".

NSF general secretary Liremo Kikon confirmed that the NSF federating units celebrated the Naga ‘Independence Day’ peacefully across the state and hoisted the Naga 'national flag’ in their respective areas. However, the police -- near Kohima College -- were seen stopping cars and removing car stickers that had the Naga 'national flag’ pasted on the windshields.

Meanwhile, the Naga National Council/Federal government of Nagaland (NNC/FGN) also celebrated the day at Peace Camp, Chedema.