Cine artistes end huger strike

KATHMANDU: After the government’s assurance to meet the demands raised by the artistes, the cine artistes broke their hunger strike on Friday signing a 10-point agreement with the information minister. The artistes were staging a hunger strike since Tuesday by putting forth a nine-point demand including autonomy of the Film Development Board and formation of a central film investigation committee among others.

Artistes N C Agraj, Mukesh Dhakal, Nila Basnet, Ananta Timalsina, Surya Regmi and Jay Kisan Basnet had staged the sit-in at the premises of the Board after the government appointed Dharmendra Marbaita ‘Pappu’ as the chairman of the Board. Minister for Information and Communications Raj Kishor Yadav broke the fasting by offering juices to the cine artists observing the fast.

Minister Yadav and coordinator of the agitating artistes Raj Kumar Rai and members Nabal Khadka and Ram Keshar Bogati signed the agreement.