The Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) has condemned the sacking of 49 journalists working in the state-owned Gorkhapatra daily.

In a statement Friday, FNJ demanded that the Ministry of Information and Communication and the Nepal government take moral responsibility for “snatching away the bread and butter of journalists” and immediately reinstate them respectfully.

The dismissal of the reporters, who had been working on contract basis, was politically motivated, FNJ president Bishnu Nisthuri said.

Gorkhapatra Corporation, which publishes Gorkhapatra daily and an assortment of publications, had laid off 49 stringers on Wednesday.

Om Sharma, former editor of CPN-Maoist mouthpiece, Janadesh weekly, heads the Corporation which operates under the Maoist-held communication ministry.