Protest against the controversial Guthi Bill intensifying in various parts of the Kathmandu Valley has been featured by a few newspapers along with the news of NCP lawmaker Rambir Manandhar asking for the resignation of Communication Minister Gokul Baskota. Provincial government unveiling their budgets on Sunday has also been featured in a few national dailies.
Here is a summary of important, ignored and interesting stories from the front pages of national broadsheets:
Important
Guthi protest swelling
The Himalayan Times reports that more and more people are joining the protest against the Guthi (Trust) Bill in all three districts of Kathmandu valley.
Guthi operators in Kathmandu said that if the current Guthi Bill was enacted into law, it would allow the land mafia to capture guthi land and it would also adversely impact people’s culture, tradition, and religious practices.
Thousands of members of Jyapu Mahaguthi, the largest of all guthis in Kathmandu, which had maintained silence till date, joined the protest at Basantapur area on Saturday morning demanding withdrawal of the bill. Jyapu Mahaguthi comprises Newari farmers. Large numbers of Jyapus are still farmers and are still using guthi land for agriculture purposes.
However, Republica reports that government has hinted at revising the Guthi Bill registered at the National Assembly due to widespread protests by the supporters of the traditional Guthi culture, demanding the withdrawal of the proposed law from the parliament.
Speaking at a program organised in Kathmandu on Saturday, Minister for Communication and Information Technology Gokul Baskota acknowledged that the bill courted controversy because of the issue related to land as well as cultural and religious aspects. An informed source at the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation said that the ministry is holding informal meetings with the concerned stakeholders aimed at revising the bill.
NCP lawmakers ask for Communication Minister’s resignation
Kantipur reports that a section of the ruling party lawmakers have demanded minister Baskota’s resignation and warned of toppling the government if it does not withdraw the bill and the minister doesn’t correct his controversial remark over Guthi.
Pro-Guthi supporters are annoyed following the minister’s disputed remark and more people are joining anti-government protests.
NCP lawmaker Rambir Manandhar on Saturday, giving a two-day deadline to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to withdraw the bill. Manandhar said that Communication Minister Gokul Baskota should resign or take back his views.
While defending the bill, Minister Baskota, who is also the spokesperson for the government, termed the Guthi tradition a symbol of feudalism. Lawmaker Manandhar warned of launching a decisive protest on Wednesday if the minister does not apologise for uttering the words that have defamed the Guthi tradition and if the PM doesn’t correct the government’s wrong move.
Ignored
Govt limits access to Singha Durbar
The Kathmandu Post reports that the KP Sharma Oli administration is now in a bid to make Singha Durbar out of bounds to the general public.
In recent days, entering Singha Durbar has become quite difficult for visitors and journalists, which officials at the Ministry of Home Affairs say is due to a plan to restrict movement in view of security concerns.
Earlier, for journalists, press passes issued by the Department of Information and Broadcasting would work as a passport to the PM’s Office. But these days, they need to ensure a call from the officials who journalists are going to meet. This system is now gradually being extended to other ministries as well.
India-Nepal petroleum pipeline to be complete by next week
Karobar reports that South Asia’s first cross border petroleum pipeline linking Motihari in India and Amlekhgunj in Nepal is set to operationalise from next week. The NOC said that around 98 per cent installation of the 78 kilometres long petroleum pipeline has been completed and that the pipeline will be functional from next week.
Intense heat affecting life in Terai
Republica reports that with the temperature soaring high, intense heat waves have started crippling life in various parts of Terai.
Normal life has been thrown out of gear in Rautahat due to the increasing heat. Of late, the temperature of the district headquarters Gaur has climbed to 43 degrees Celsius. Daily-wage labourers and farmers who work in the open are the worst affected by the heat as they have no option than to face the ordeal. People have started fainting and falling ill due to extreme heat.
People have stopped visiting government offices due to the heat. People are only getting out of their houses only if they have to.
Interesting
Three cable cars proposed in Shivapuri and Nagarjun National Parks
Kantipur report that businessmen have intensified their lobbying to operate three cable car projects and resorts at Shivapuri-Nagarjun National Park.
Businessmen have been lobbying to seek approval for cable cars from Shahidpark of Gokarneshwor Municipality to Bulbari in the national park, from Budhanilkantha to Shivapuri peak and from Raniban of Nagarjun Municipality to Nagarjun peak (Jamacho).
Currently, there are no legal provisions on allowing operating cable car services in national parks and wildlife reserves in Nepal. However, the Ministry of Forest and Environment is preparing to allow jungle safari, cycle race, ultra race, jungle walk and rock climbing among other activities at the national park.
Province govts unveiling budget today
Karobar and Republica report that all seven provincial governments are unveiling their budgets for the upcoming fiscal year on Sunday. Although the federal government has reduced its grants for the provinces, the total budget amount of the seven provinces is expected to be around Rs 250 billion, or about 15 percent of the national budget for Fiscal Year 2019/20.
All seven provinces get new Police Chief
Naya Patrika and Kantipur report that the Home Ministry has replaced police chiefs in all seven provinces. The ministry has transferred 19 DIG to various provinces. The ministry has also changed the responsibilities of various officers.
