Government withdraws controversial Guthi Bill; PM says he felt hurt by NC’s obstruction in Parliament

Kathmandu / June 18: The government has decided to withdraw the controversial Guthi Bill as pressure started mounting from all quarters demanding withdrawal of the bill.

The bill, which received outrage from various ethnic communities, especially the Newar community, had provisions which critics said would jeopardise the conservation of cultural heritage and traditions of the country.

In a press conference organised by the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation, Minister Padma Kumari Aryal informed that the government has decided to withdraw the bill.

However, rather than admitting to the flaws in the bill, the statement read that the bill was withdrawn because ‘people misread government’s intentions and got mislead’.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli addressed a press conference in Singha Durbar to talk about the Guthi Bill, his visit to Europe, among other issues.

Earlier today, the main opposition Nepali Congress lawmakers had obstructed the Lower House of the Federal Parliament as the Prime Minister stepped up to address the parliament, where he was supposed to talk about the Guthi Bill.

PM says he felt hurt by NC’s obstruction in Parliament

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has commented that the main opposition Nepali Congress has demonstrated uncivilized activities in the parliament session barring him to address the House.

While speaking in a press meet at Singha Durbar on Tuesday evening, PM Oli has said that the main opposition party has established the undemocratic practice in the parliament by demanding its chief Sher Bahadur Deuba should be allowed to speak ahead of him. PM claimed that the main opposition has defamed the value of the parliament.

“I was so surprised to see Sher Bahadur Deuba led NC lawmakers to picket the main rostrum as I was preparing to talk on contemporary matters of public interests including my recent Europe visit and Guthi bill. He should be well aware of the parliament decorum,” PM added.