Peru: Quechua in Congress latest cause for discord

use of indigeus langu Quechua by He of President Pedro Castillo's Cabinet inside Peru's Congress caused sparks to fly Thursday.

kerfuffle was just ar example of open discord growing between Castillo supporters and his vocal detractors.

After greeting his fellow Peruvians in Quechua, considered a native langu used by millions of indigeus people in Peru, Guido Bellido was quickly reprimanded by He of Peru's Congress and asked to "speak Spanish."

"I would appreciate as would or members, because I also do t understand you," said Maria del Carmen Alva pointedly.  "w that you have said hello in Quechua, you could speak in Spanish please."

Bellido responded that by t speaking in Quechua Congressional proceeding was "practically leaving m to one side" referring to Peru's largely indigeus population.

Official data from 2017 states that 13% of Peruvians, some 4 million people - most of whom reside in Andes mountains - speak Quechua.

Outside in streets of Lima both anti-Castillo and his supporters marched to voice ir opinions.

police were able to keep two vociferous groups apart as y met at rear of congress building but frustrations mounted on both sides.

"We do t want him to vacate we want him to work," said supporter Daniela Ramos.

Castillo, a leftist political vice who has promised to be a champion of his country's poor, took office in July and has faced repeated calls to resign.

rural teacher who has never held political office before is Peru's first president of peasant origin.

Castillo faces a deeply divided Congress that will make it extremely challenging for him to fulfill his ill-defined campaign promises to aid poor, who are w estimated to make up about a third of country's population.