Initial hearing on Vice president Jha 'Hindi episode' today

The Supreme Court (SC), Sunday, is going to conduct a hearing on a writ petition filed against Vice President Parmananda Jha taking oath of office and secrecy in Hindi instead of the national language Nepali.Advocate Bal Krishna Neupane had filed the writ at the apex court Friday saying that VP ... ...has breached the interim constitution by swearing in Hindi. In the writ, he has demanded rejection of the oath taken by Jha and letting him carry out his normal duties only after re-taking it in Nepali language.As per the provision in the Article 36 of the interim constitution, a government official can apart from the national language take the oath of office and secrecy in his mother-tongue also.The offices of the President, Vice President and Prime Minister have been made the opponents in the case.There has been widespread protests across the country against the incident as many view VP Jha swearing in Hindi as undermining the Nepali nationhood. Student organisations affiliated with major political parties including small political outfits have been organising demonstrations in Kathmandu including many districts of the country, imposing shutdown strike, blocking traffics and burning VP Jha's effigies. Due to protests, VP Jha was unable to go to his office recently set up in Bahadur Bhavan which formerly housed the Election Commission on Friday.Student leaders have been very stark in their protest against VP Jha, even saying that they would continue with their strike until he formerly asks for an apology for what they call an "unconstitutional act".After attending the traditional Bhoto Jatra festival in Patan Saturday where he emerged in the national dress as against what many describe as "Indian looking" dress he wore during the swearing in ceremony of President and Vice-President, VP Jha defended his actions, saying that he did not commit any mistake by swearing in Hindi and hasn't thought about correcting it. The former SC justice said that he would abide by any decision taken by the Supreme Court regarding the matter."Hindi has become indispensable for us ," he said, "for the glory of the region and people I represent and also as per the policy of my party Madhesi Janadhikar Forum I had taken the oath in Hindi." MJF has also warned against giving the issue a political colour, even as their former nemesis – CPN (Maoist) – have been coming up rather strongly against the episode by calling it an unconstitutional act.However, critics argue that a person assuming such an important and revered government post should show the statesmanship by rising above politics, regionalism and other dividing factors and embrace the national spirit and character.

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