Government withdraws much controversial Guthi Bill

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However, rather than admitting to the flaws in the bill, the statement read that the bill was withdrawn because 'people misread government's intentions and got mislead'.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

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