KATHMANDU, June 25: The government has officially withdrawn the controversial Guthi bill from the National Assembly on Tuesday.

A proposal on annulment of Guthi bill tabled by Minister for Land Reforms Padma Aryal was endorsed unanimously at the National Assembly, the upper house of the Federal Parliament.

The much-talked-about bill on the management of lands belonging to Guthis (religious and social trusts) courted controversy with people from various walks of life of the society demanding its withdrawal.

The bill, which was registered at the National Assembly, last month proposed forming an 'Authority' to manage Guthi lands, which are currently managed by the Guthi Sansthan or Corporation.

Since the bill registered in the House, widespread protests across the capital took place demanding the withdrawal of the bill. Those taking to the street against the bill said that if it is endorsed as proposed it would only serve the interests of the so-called land mafia.

The demonstrators were of the view that new law as proposed in the bill will turn public guthis (trusts) into a 'playground for politicians, government officials and influential people who wish to embezzle guthi land'.

 
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