The struggle committee against the controversial guthi bill has demanded resignation of three ministers.
Issuing a statement in the evening after the massive mass gathering at Maitighar Mandala Wednesday morning, the committee has called for resignation of Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, Minister for Communication and Information Technology Gokul Baskota and Minister for Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation Padma Aryal.
Resignation of Home Minister Thapa has been demanded for use of force by police against protesters at Maitighar on June 9, Baskota for calling the protesting operators of guthis (community trusts) feudal to insult the people's voice and Aryal for bringing the half-cooked bill without consultation with the stakeholders in a way to benefit corrupt staffers and land mafia.
The struggle committee will hold consultation with intelligentsia including Satya Mohan Joshi, Kedar Bhakta Mathema, Shankar Limbu, Govinda Tandon, and cultural and legal experts on Thursday to decide future strategy, according to coordinator of the struggle committee Ganapati Lal Shrestha.
"This movement has given two messages. First, the sleeping people have woken up and they will not accept any autocratic law and act. Second, the current youths do not just have vigor but conscience as well," Shrestha told Setoapti.
Minister Aryal announced withdrawal of the bill registered in the National Assembly holding a press conference Tuesday afternoon . But the bill has yet to be withdrawn from the National Assembly.
The government was forced to announce the bill's withdrawal following widespread criticism. Newar communities in all three districts of the Kathmandu Valley opposed the bill complaining that the government is trying to destroy their culture and tradition.