INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:

Kathmandu, June 17 Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli today met Nepal Communist Party (NCP) lawmakers from Kathmandu valley to dwell on the Guthi

Bill and told them that he would take a call on the issue after holding discussion in the Cabinet. NCP lawmaker from Kathmandu

Constituency No 8 Jeevan Ram Shrestha told the PM that the best option for the government would be to withdraw the bill as it attempted to

treat all guthis — private and public — in the same manner. Shrestha said he told the PM that outside Kathmandu valley farmers might

have reason to claim tenancy right on guthi land, &but in Kathmandu, guthis have become an integral part of Newar community social life

Guthis play vital role in promoting and protecting Newar culture.& He said if the bill was passed in the current form, it could destroy the

Newar community culture and traditions. He said he told the PM that the government should withdraw the current Guthi Bill and start the

process afresh proposing different solutions for different kinds of guthis. NCP lawmaker Krishna Lal Maharjan, who represents the party in

the House of Representatives from Lalitpur Constituency No 2, said almost all the lawmakers who spoke during consultations urged the PM to

withdraw the bill

&Almost all the speakers told the PM that the bill had both positive and negative aspects, but since protest is growing day by day against

the bill, it will be better if the government withdraws the bill now,& Maharjan said

He added that although the PM did not assure them that he would withdraw the bill, he was hopeful that the PM would act as per the

suggestions of the lawmakers. Prime Minister Press Adviser Kundan Aryal said the PM told lawmakers that the government would take a decision

on the bill as per their views. Among those consulted by the PM included House of Representatives members Krishna Lal Maharjan, Krishna

Gopal Shrestha, Pampha Bhusal, Province 3 assembly members Ajay Kranti Shakya and Basant Prasad Manandhar and Mayor of Kathmandu metropolis

Bidya Sundar Shakya. The PM Private Secretariat issued a press release stating that the PM told party lawmakers that he had been holding

consultations on the bill and would soon take an appropriate decision on it. Before consulting lawmakers, the PM had consulted Minister of

Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation Padma Kumari Aryal on the bill

Aryal declined to divulge the details of what she told the PM

When asked whether as line minister she was ready to withdraw the bill, Aryal said, &Some rumours are being spread against the bill and the

government has a duty to dispel doubts about the bill provisions

But the government is ready to revise the bill if any provision of the bill or its phraseology adversely impacts people religion and

culture,& she said

Aryal added that the PM statement delivered after his return from Europe tour echoed her feelings. Prior to meeting the PM, ruling party

lawmakers representing Kathmandu valley also met senior NCP leader and former prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal to express their

concerns. Maharjan said party lawmakers told Nepal that withdrawing the Guthi Bill would best serve the party interests in the face of

growing protest against the bill

Nepal said he supported their stance on the bill. Party lawmakers had told Nepal to convey their concerns to the PM, but since the PM wanted

to hear lawmakers& grievances directly from them, Nepal did not say anything to the PM today, according to Maharjan. Meanwhile, stakeholders

and guthi operators continued their protest against the bill today

Protesters took to the streets in Basantpur, Thecho and Bangemuda

Locals are preparing to protest against the bill in Banepa of Kavrepalanchowk district tomorrow

Member of Save Nepa Valley Suraj Maharjan said they were preparing to hold a large rally in Kathmandu on June 19 in which people from Newar

community from Kathmandu valley would come to Maitighar Mandala to protest the bill. Guthi Bill discussed in Lower House ‘Govt ready to

resolve Guthi Bill issues& Newars continue protests against Guthi Bill EDITORIAL: Drop Guthi Bill People take to streets against Guthi

Bill The post Appropriate decision on Guthi Bill soon appeared first on The Himalayan Times.