Sikkim University student arrested over derogatory remarks against Nepali language ahead of Bhasha Samman Diwas
The student, identified as Raj Shekhar from Banaras, Uttar Pradesh, allegedly called Nepali a “foreign language” in the official WhatsApp group of the Department of Commerce and suggested that users of the language should “go to Nepal.”
LOCAL
Tensions ran high at Sikkim University on the eve of Nepali Bhasha Samman Diwas as a first-semester M.Com student was arrested for making derogatory remarks against the Nepali language and belittling Independence Day celebrations. The student, identified as Raj Shekhar from Banaras, Uttar Pradesh, allegedly called Nepali a “foreign language” in the official WhatsApp group of the Department of Commerce and suggested that users of the language should “go to Nepal.”
The remarks drew widespread condemnation from the Sikkim University Students’ Association (SUSA) and the wider Nepali-speaking community in the state. The incident struck a raw nerve, particularly as it occurred just a day before Nepali Bhasha Samman Diwas on August 20, which celebrates the recognition of Nepali as an official language under the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution in 1992. The day is a reminder of the persistent struggle by leaders from Sikkim and Gorkha communities to secure constitutional recognition for Nepali.
Police took swift action, booking Raj Shekhar under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, including Section 196(1) for promoting enmity, Section 353(1)(c) for public mischief, and Section 353(2) for creating hatred on linguistic grounds. Authorities emphasized that such remarks threaten social harmony and are unacceptable in a state where Nepali is the majority language.