LALITPUR — The Nepal Janamukti Party has called for Koshi Province to be renamed “Kirat Limbuwan Khambuwan,” urging the provincial government and assembly members to recognise the region’s historical identity and safeguard linguistic, cultural and political rights.
In a press statement dated Ashoj 25, 2083 BS, party chairperson K. P. Palungwa and general secretary and secretariat in-charge Padam Jabegu welcomed the provincial assembly’s decision to recognise Limbu, Maithili and other languages for official government use. According to the statement, the decision was made on Ashoj 24.
However, the party objected to the use of “Rai” as the name of a single language, arguing that various distinct linguistic communities use Rai as a shared ethnic identity.
The statement referred to 26 linguistic communities, including Bantawa, Chamling, Kulung, Thulung, Hangkhim, Wambule and Yamphu, and called for their languages to be recognised by their respective names.
The party also urged authorities to explicitly identify the script used for the Limbu language as “Kirat Sirijanga.”
Emphasising respect for the distinct linguistic and cultural identities of the communities concerned, the party appealed to the provincial government and lawmakers to pursue the proposed name change as part of recognising historical identity and ensuring political rights.
