Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa Wednesday said the government is seriously concerned about the indefinite hunger strike of Bhutanese human rights leader Tek Nath Rijal.

At a meeting with a team of representatives of various human rights organizations at the PMO, Thapa said he is worried about Rijal health, assuring that he would do the needful regarding demands he has made.

Following the meeting, the rights activists told reporters that the PM has informed that he has asked the Foreign Ministry and the Home Ministry to see to the demands. The team led by Padma Ratna Tuladhar, a senior rights activist, had asked the PM to be more focused on the refugee issue.

Rijal went on an indefinite hunger strike form Tuesday morning, demanding early repatriation of Bhutanese refugees and involvement of the United Nations High Commissioner for refugees in the resettlement process.