He has accused Chief Justice Min Bahadur Rayamajhi, who was one of the two judges delivering the verdict, of harbouring personal animosity towards him and using the chance to settle old scores.

The debate over whether Jha should take the oath again or quit has dominated Nepal since the verdict came last month.

While the ruling parties, the government and President Ram Baran Yadav have been urging Jha to obey the court, the Hindi parties as well as the Maoists have said he should resign instead of taking the oath in Nepali.

In the Terai, the opinion is unanimous. The residents of the plains, looked down upon by the elite hill community for centuries and excluded from all benefits, say they would 'disown' the vice president if he takes the oath again in Nepali.

From Thursday, in a bid to put pressure on the government, the Terai parties began street protests in Kathmandu. The protests continued Thursday with the Terai Madhes Loktantrik Party joining the fray.

Police arrested student leaders of the party in the capital during the protest.

The Hindi parties have asked the president, who himself is from the Terai but is a conformist, to find a way out so that Jha doesn't lose face. Otherwise, they have warned him of severe consequences.

The government, in a bid to sweeten Jha's bitter pill, said the constitution would be amended to allow future presidents and vice presidents to take the oath in their mother tongue.

However, the Hindi parties are asking for the amendment to be effected now so that Jha's position is safeguarded.