Leaders of various indigenous groups and linguistic communities have suggested Vice President Paramananda Jha not to take in oath in Nepali, as ordered by the Supreme Court.

The 'Joint Struggle Committee for Linguistic Rights' led by the Federation of the Nepalese Indigenous Nationalities (NFIN) submitted memorandum to VP Jha on Wednesday, suggesting him to stick with his stance against fresh oath in Nepali.

According to NFIN president and UML lawmaker Pasang Sherpa, who led the committee's delegation, VP Jha said he would prefer to step down if he had to take oath in Nepali.

The joint committee, which represents 91 different languages spoken in Nepal, also submitted the memo to President Dr Ram Baran Yadav at the latter's office, Shitwal Niwas.

The committee's delegation that submitted the memos to the President and the Vice President included Sitaram Tamang, Maoist lawmaker Suresh Ale Magar, Padma Ratna Tuladhar of Newa Manka Khala and Gopal Thakur of Progressive Writers' Association.

In the memorandum, the committee has demanded an amendment in the interim constitution to make sure the President and the Vice President can take oath of office in their mother tongues. nepalnews.com