Kathmandu, April 21 -- Pressure is mounting on the ruling communist party from its own leaders to initiate action against Bishnu Poudel, general secretary of the party who has been embroiled in a controversy for buying a piece of land in Baluwatar in January 2005.

A report prepared by a probe panel led by former secretary Sharada Prasad Trital has revealed that Poudel's land was among the 113 ropanis acquired by the government and later transferred in the names of individuals in an unscrupulous manner.

Though Poudel has issued two statements in a span of 10 days, saying that he bought the land "legally, the party has maintained an eerie silence over the matter, which party insiders say is "damaging the party's image".

Some Standing Com...