The agitating journalists of the Nepal 1 television channel ended their indefinite hunger strike Monday morning after an understanding with the management.

The agitating journalists and the management reached a 14-point understanding during the talks last night in the presence of representatives from Ministry of Information and Communications, the Ministry of Labour and the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ). The Nepal 1 staffers said they had withdrawn all their protest programmes.

Speaker Subash Nemwang, Peace and Reconstruction Minister Ram Chandra Poudel and Health Minister Giriraj Mani Pokhrel gave fruit juice to the journalists sitting in the hunger strike to end their fast-unto-death.

Raj Kumar Regmi and Rishi Dhamala had been in indefinite hunger strike since four days demanding appointment letters, timely payment, transparency in financial matters and the legal status of the TV channel, among others.

Speaking on the occasion, Speaker Nemwang assured the journalists to pass the Working Journalists Act from the parliament at the earliest to protect the rights of working journalists.

Poudel said the consideration of the demands put forward by the journalists working with the TV channel is a win for all working journalists. He also said the government was mulling over bringing the Working Journalists Act soon.

The journalists and other staff members of the TV channel have been agitating since 18 days. Political leaders, human rights activists, national and international media rights bodies had expressed solidarity to the agitation.