Kathmandu, September 27:

Accusing the government of neglecting its concerns, Nepal Motion Pictures Association (NMPA) announced an agitation today.

“Protesting against this government’s policy on cinema, our organisation will close cinema halls across the nation on Monday,” NMPA president Raj Kumar Pokhrel said at a press conference organised to make public the agitation plan.

The association will publish its protest plans in newspaper sections in which it used to have show schedules published. NMPA members will stage a one-and-a-half-hour sit-in at the office of the Film Development Board on Monday. NMPA has urged the government to do away with the practice of levying film development tax on Nepali films on a par with foreign films. It called on the government to stop collecting tax from cinema hall when they were not showing any Nepali film.

It called on authorities to do away with the provision that seeks details of the film a week before its screening. NMPA has urged the government to help produce films that promote national integrity and nationalism.

Pokhrel said his organisation will be compelled to launch decisive protests if the government fails to address its demands within 15 days.