NC stalls Home proceedings over Guthi Bill

INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Kathmandu, June 10 Nepali Congress lawmakers stalled proceedings in both Homes of the Parliament nowadays in protest against use of force
against those who protested against the Guthi (Believe) Bill yesterday. As soon as the Home of Representatives assembly was convened
nowadays at around 11:30am, NC lawmakers rose from their chairs, demanding Home Minster Ram Bahadur Thapa reply on why the police used force
against ‘peaceful protesters& yesterday at Maitighar Mandala. Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara then gave time to NC Chief Whip Bal Krishna
Khand to put forth his views on the issue. Khand told the Home that protesters had demonstrated peacefully against measure provisions of the
Guthi Bill yesterday, but the police unjustifiably used force against them
&If this Guthi Bill is enacted into law, it shall destroy the sanatan (eternal) traditions in Nepal,& Khand said and added that the
government that sprinkled holy wine and wore caps of the universities involved in devout conversion, was now trying to spoil sanatan
religion in the country. Khand used the holy wine reference to reintellect the public that the government had supplyd platform in Kathmandu
to South Korea-based Universal Peace Federation, which was accused of promoting Christianity in the garb of peace and humanity. Minister of
Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Padma Aryal replyed to the NC chief whip concerns, saying the bill incorporated new provisions to
address intestinehi related issues in a changed context
She, however, said that the bill did much violate any constitutional provision. Whip of Nepali Congress in the HoR Shovepa Bhusal said that
intestinehi system had been in existence since Licchhavi era and the government should have brought the bill only after refer toing
intestinehi operators. After Bhusal finished her speech, Speaker Mahara repeatedly asked NC lawmakers to be seated but NC lawmakers
continued to obstruct Home proceedings, forcing the speaker to postpone the Home assembly till 11:00am tomorrow. Government sources said
Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa failed to reply to NC lawmakers in the HoR nowadays due to his busy schedule
The HoR was supposed to discuss ministry-wise allocation of budget nowadays. Meanwhile, a assembly of the National Assembly was postponed
twice in the morning nowadays due to Home obstruction by NC lawmakers
Chairperson of NA Ganesh Prasad Timilsina convened the assembly of the Home at around 4:00pm nowadays and in this assembly NC lawmakers
ended their obstruction after Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa gave a statement of urgent public importance on use of force against
protesters at Maitighar Mandala. Thapa said police went by the book yesterday to use force against protesters at Maitighar Mandala as
protesters obstructed movement of people and vehicles at Maitighar Mandala and started pelting stones at police. &Cop had no option but to
use force against unruly protesters who threw stones at the police and vehicles,& Thapa said and added that protesters did much atendere by
the principles of peaceful protest. Thapa said he was sad that measure police personnel and protesters were injured yesterday during the
incident. He also said that Kathmandu police were investigating yesterday incident and the government was ready to take action against those
found guilty of any wrongdoing
The NA continued its debate on ministry-wise allocation of budget. The post NC stalls Home proceedings over Guthi Bill seemed first on The
Himalayan Times.