The central committee of the ruling Nepali Congress party Friday evening gave Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba a   go-ahead to implement the controversial land reforms programme announced last week.

The central committee authorized the government to introduce legislation in parliament within five days to reduce land holdings, an announcement said. A five- member committee has been formed under the chairmanship of former deputy prime minister Ram Chandra Paudel to give suggestions to the government on reforms implementation. The central committee also called for the assessment of property party leaders after restoration of multi-party  democracy  11 years ago.

Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba received the support of Girija Prasad Koirala, the powerful president of the ruling Nepali Congress party, at the organization’s meeting  of the parliamentary party Friday to discuss the government chief’s controversial move last week to reduce land holdings and freeze the sale and transfer of land nation-wide. Koirala told the meeting the party and the public should support Deuba’s move despite opposition from powerful members of the party including Shailja Acharya, Dr.Ram Baran Yadav and other leaders from the terai.

Koirala asked party legislators to support Deuba’s eight point programme to introduce sweeping reforms in Nepali society, including land reforms. Koirala’s personal support for Deuba will help the government chief to get party and parliamentary support. Communists in parliament have supported Deuba’s initiative, but the RPP and the NSP have also opposed the move by obstructing parliament proceedings and calling for a ceiling on property and not on land alone.

Critics have charged Deuba for pushing a communist agenda ahead of talks with Maoists to end an insurgency that has claimed more than 1,800 lives in nearly six years. The legality of Deuba’s decision has been challenged at the Supreme Court which will give its ruling August 31.