In further escalation of the Hindi row in Nepal, some 50 activists belonging to different political parties were arrested here today as they burnt copies of the Supreme Court order nullifying the Vice President's oath taken in the language.
Vice President Parmananada Jha, an ethnic Madhesi from southern Terai region bordering India, had courted controversy last year after he took the oath of office in Hindi. The Supreme Court last week ruled that he should take a fresh oath in Nepali within seven days, failing which he will be disqualified from the top post.
A few hundred activists belonging to different Madhesi groups staged a demonstration in Maitighar Mandala in the capital to protest against the court order.
As it was a restricted area, police intervened and arrested the activists, eye-witnesses and officials said.
Jha has not taken any decision on re-taking the oath, the court-set deadline for which expires on Saturday.
Meanwhile, some three dozen Madhesi MPs belonging to the Maoist party today issued a joint statement asking the Vice President not to resign from the post, according to sources.
The Madhesi parties have already asked him not to resign and not to re-take oath in Nepali language.
{{/usCountry}}The Madhesi parties have already asked him not to resign and not to re-take oath in Nepali language.
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