Ex-British Gurkhas Satyagraha Joint Struggle Committee today threatened to disturb Gurkha recruitment possess scheduled for next week in Pokhara to pressurise the government and the United Kingdom to address its long-standing demands.
Issuing a press note today, chief coordinator of the committee Krishna Bahadur Rai warned that they are also planning pressure campaigns in Nepal and the UK, simultaneously. “Issues raised by ex-Gurkhas are not just related to the retired servicemen, but to Nepal and all Nepalis sovereignty and dignity,” the press note reads, adding that they will continue their protest until both the governments form a high-level talks team and hold dialogue to address the demands of ex-Gurkha servicemen.
The committee has served an ultimatum until February 15, 2020 to the Government of Nepal and the Government of the UK to form a high-level talks team as soon as possible. “A prompt dialogue between the two governments on the Report of Technical Committee – that comprised the ambassador of Nepal to UK, minister of defence (UK) and representatives of British Gurkha ex-servicemen’s associations – has to be started without further delay,” the press note further reads, adding that the dialogue should be held in line with the report of the International Relation Committee of the Federal parliament of Nepal as guiding instrument.
According to the committee, imposition of Indian Pay Code on British Gurkhas after 1948 is unfair and against the national sovereignty and independence of Nepal. The Indian Pay Code on British Gurkhas after 1948 – in the name of Tripartite Agreement-1947 that came with mutual understanding between India and Britain – is against the national sovereignty and independence of Nepal, the committee argued, warning that the movement of equality and dignity that was started by Gurkha veterans against the British government will be advanced at national as well as international level in the form of patriotic movement.
The ex-Gurkhas have demanded an end to discrimination and injustice imposed on Gurkha veterans and on their families and pay compensation to the families of thousands of soldiers, who had lost their lives in wars. The compensation, according to them, comes to around Rs 120 billion. The British Government is ready pay compensation – based on the Report of Technical Committee – but Nepal government must start government-to-government talks immediately, they claim, adding that they also want to their pension to be paid directly from British Government not through the Indian government.
Issuing a press note today, chief coordinator of the committee Krishna Bahadur Rai warned that they are also planning pressure campaigns in Nepal and the UK, simultaneously. “Issues raised by ex-Gurkhas are not just related to the retired servicemen, but to Nepal and all Nepalis sovereignty and dignity,” the press note reads, adding that they will continue their protest until both the governments form a high-level talks team and hold dialogue to address the demands of ex-Gurkha servicemen.
The committee has served an ultimatum until February 15, 2020 to the Government of Nepal and the Government of the UK to form a high-level talks team as soon as possible. “A prompt dialogue between the two governments on the Report of Technical Committee – that comprised the ambassador of Nepal to UK, minister of defence (UK) and representatives of British Gurkha ex-servicemen’s associations – has to be started without further delay,” the press note further reads, adding that the dialogue should be held in line with the report of the International Relation Committee of the Federal parliament of Nepal as guiding instrument.
According to the committee, imposition of Indian Pay Code on British Gurkhas after 1948 is unfair and against the national sovereignty and independence of Nepal. The Indian Pay Code on British Gurkhas after 1948 – in the name of Tripartite Agreement-1947 that came with mutual understanding between India and Britain – is against the national sovereignty and independence of Nepal, the committee argued, warning that the movement of equality and dignity that was started by Gurkha veterans against the British government will be advanced at national as well as international level in the form of patriotic movement.
The ex-Gurkhas have demanded an end to discrimination and injustice imposed on Gurkha veterans and on their families and pay compensation to the families of thousands of soldiers, who had lost their lives in wars. The compensation, according to them, comes to around Rs 120 billion. The British Government is ready pay compensation – based on the Report of Technical Committee – but Nepal government must start government-to-government talks immediately, they claim, adding that they also want to their pension to be paid directly from British Government not through the Indian government.
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