Kathmandu, April 17:

A meeting of painters held at the National Association of Fine Arts (NAFA) hall today formed a 13-member Loktantrik Lalit Karmi Sangharsa Samiti to plan protest programmes in support of the ongoing movement.

Participants of 20 organisations associated with fine arts chose artist Kiran Manandhar as the new body’s coordinator.

Other Samiti members are Ramesh Khanal, Rabin Koirala Uttam Kharel, Sujan Chitrakar, Bholanath Poudel, Rajna Kafle, Shanta Kumar Rai, Bhishnu Rajbhandari, Om Khatri and Lal Kaji Lama, while Uttam Nepal has been chosen its advisor.

Starting on Wednesday, the Samiti will organise “artistic protests” until democracy is restored in the country.