Madhesi leaders dub SC verdict on Hindi oath 'regressive'

KATHMANDU, July 25: After the nullification of the oath-taking in Hindi by Vice President Paramananda Jha, Madhesi leaders who are demanding ´official language´ status for Hindi as well, have said the SC verdict had hurt the sentiments of the non-Nepali speaking people. [break]

Vice Prez vents displeasure over SC verdict

Here is what some of the Madhesi leaders had to say about the SC verdict:

Hridayesh Tripathi (Tarai Madhes Democratic Party)

A similar case was filed in the Supreme Court when I first spoke in Hindi in the parliament in 2048 BS. I was asked to furnish reply which I did not. Later, the apex court decided that the issue of language was something to be decided by the parliament itself. The apex court had also barred using local languages as official languages in local bodies. There is a tradition of the apex court to pass regressive decisions in language issues. Since the vice president has already taken the oath and assumed the office, he will not need to take a fresh oath and I think he won´t do that.

Anil Jha (Sadbhawana Party)

As a lawmaker upholding the rule of law, I cannot make any negative comment on this. Nevertheless, since political party leaders are representatives of certain community, it should be purely an individual matter to decide what they wear and what language they take oath in. The apex court verdict is against the spirit of federal republic of Nepal.

Upendra Jha (Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Gachchhadar faction)

The Supreme Court´s verdict has hurt the sentiments of non-Nepali speaking populace in Nepal. At a time when people from several linguistic backgrounds are trying to get their languages recognized, the SC verdict won´t subside will only promote conflict. It seems that the decision came to as personal vengeance against Jha, who served as justice at the apex court before being elected to the post of vice president.

BP Yadav (Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Yadav faction)

This is an anti-Madhesi decision. All Madhesi people will protest the apex court´s decision. Interim Constitution neither bars taking oath in Hindi, nor does it make Nepali language compulsory for that matter. The vice president verbally took oath in Hindi, but signed it in Nepali. If he is forced to take oath again in Nepali language, not only Jha but also many others will quit from their respective posts.