Kathmandu: Nepal's Madhesi People's Rights
Forum has said that it wants to designate Hindi as an official
language, after the country's Vice President Parmanand Jha
triggered a controversy by taking oath in the language.
"Nepal is a multi-lingual country. We have no issues
with Nepali as the official language. All we want is to give
Hindi the official status once the new constitution is ready
since more than 90 per cent of Neapli can speak and understand
Hindi," party leader Upendra Yadav told agency here.
Expressing concern over the situation in Terai,
bordering India, Yadav said, "People of Terai are not treated
as equals. Problems persist there and a kind of internal
colonisation is prevailing in the area."
Yadav, a former foreign minister, said the ruling
coalition doesn't want to draft the constitution as it would
give equal rights to all.
"We want the new constitution to acknowledge the
fundamental rights of everybody," Yadav said.
He also stressed that Nepal favours strong bilateral
relations, both with India and China.
"Situation now is different from that of 60's. We want
good relation and peace between India and China. Good terms
between two powerful countries in the region is in favour of
Neapl," the senior Madhesi leader added.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, March 30, 2010, 20:26