JANAKPURDHAM, Jan 24: The Madhesh Province Government has withdrawn a bill which sought to include Maithili, Bhojpuri, Bajjika, Hindi and English as the official working languages in Madhesh, after widespread protests.
Speaking in the provincial assembly on Friday, Education and Culture Minister Rani Sharma Tiwari proposed withdrawing the bill.
Minister Tiwari said that even if there is an error in the bill, she has the right to get it corrected by the provincial parliament. She said, "Actually, the bill was erroneous. I feel that the Tharu language, too, should have been included."
The bill had proposed making Nepali, Maithili, Bhojpuri, Bajjika, Hindi, and English the official working languages. However, after disagreements from both ruling and opposition MPs in Thursday's discussion, the government decided to withdraw it during a Council of Ministers meeting today.
Meanwhile, Tharu and Magahi speakers, along with their supporters, protested in front of the provincial assembly, calling for the bill's withdrawal and the inclusion of the Tharu language.