Veteran Gurkha protest in London for their equal pensions Rights

London : GURKHA veterans have stepped up their campaign to honour the heroes among their ranks - one month before a hunger strike relay is set to begin. Veterans, politicians, and neighbours this week presented a petition with 659 signatures to the House of Commons urging the Government to hand them equal pensions. The united Gurkha Satyagraha campaign was launched in July, and Gurkhas now plan to stand outside the Houses of Parliament every Wednesday and Thursday until October 24 - the day before the hunger strike will start.

Gyanraj Rai, a bus driver, said: “We will meet up three times on each day in order to tell the MPs of the Gurkhas’ anecdote of loyalty, bravery and sacrifice, as well as their plight, anguish and neglect. “The bitter truth is Gurkhas have been glaringly discriminated against for the past two centuries; therefore, we, under no circumstances, can accept or internalise the misconception of the British governments.” Gurkhas across the country marched in Parliament Square in London in April to demand equal pensions, compensation for years of neglect, equal pensions for their widows, the right to stay in Britain for their adult children, and access to free medical treatment for Gurkhas who have retired in Nepal.

If the Government fails to meet their calls by October, they plan to stage a hunger strike relay, where they will take it in turns to fast. Mr Rai added: “We have given an ultimatum to Downing Street, but it is not a threat. “We have been incessantly campaigning for the last two decades. All the Second World War Gurkha veterans passed away without justice being delivered to them and the same sort of tragedy may occur.”