Kathmandu, August 24:

People from different walks of life today expressed their solidarity and urged the government to seriously consider the demands raised by Birendra Dahal, adviser to the HBC FM, who has been staging a fast-on-to-death strike for the past 13 days at the Media Village at Sinamangal.

Speaking at an interaction at Media Village, they urged the government to show its ‘democratic nature’ by honouring the peaceful protest, said a press release issued here today by Reporters’ News Corner.

Quoting Binaya Dhoj Chand, central member of Nepali Congress, the release stated: “The government should not curtail the media because it would mean closing the path to a new Nepal.”

He also urged the government to be active on solving such problems.

Devendra Poudel, central member of Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist, said the problem is between the working journalists and the management, so it should be solved through talks.

Harihar Birahi, senior journalist, said that the demands raised by Dahal are genuine; so the government should immediately address them.

“Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala should also think about Dahal’s health status,” he added.