Thousands walk in protest demanding cancellation of Guthi Bill in Nepal

KATHMANDU, Jun 19, 2019, The Himalayan Times. Thousands of people, especially from the Newar community, have gathered at Maitighar Mandala right now demanding the government to scrap the controversial Guthi Bill, reported The Himalayan Times.

Though the bill was withdrawn by the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation in a press conference yesterday, the protestors are demanding that the bill be scrapped.

Yesterday itself, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, in a separate press conference held in Singha Durbar, also expressed his support for withdrawal of the bill. However, the agitators — who say the bill is a threat to the centuries-old culture and traditions of Nepal — are of the opinion that the protest must go on until the bill is totally cancelled.

The agitators have completely surrounded the Mandala chanting slogans to preserve the guthi, scrapping of the bill and demanding the resignation of Home Minister and the Minister for Communication and Information Technology, among others.

The crowd of such a magnitude is not a common sight. People have come together for a cause they believe is crucial for the conservation of culture and heritage. There is a even a music band to give that cultural touch to the demonstration!

Meanwhile, security personnel including armed police force and riot police have been deployed for security purposes.