Gurkhas rally through London streets demanding equal rights

Rupanjana Dutta Tuesday 15th June 2021 13:50 EDT
 
 

Hundreds of Gurkhas rallied through Whitehall on Tuesday afternoon for a ‘Gurkha Satyagraha’ – a protest for justice, asking the UK government to respond to their 14-point letter, demanding equal social and financial rights and a dialogue with Nepal.

The letter that calls for a meeting between Nepal and UK governments aims at resolving the issues concerning equal pension, under the Gurkha Pension Scheme (GPS) and Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 (AFPS75). The letter which has deadline of 30 June 2021, still hasn’t generated any reaction from the UK government, disappointing this fiercely loyal community.

Gyanraj Rai, Chief Coordinator, Gurkha Satyagraha told Asian Voice, “We demand for a powerful dialogue committee to resolve the issue of this discrimination. We have been serving the British Crown for the last over 200 years, but we have been compelled to struggle for more than three decades.”

There were approximately 40,000 Gurkhas when they started their campaign years ago, but the numbers have reduced to 16,000 and dwindling, as people struggle in poverty. Many Gurkha old veterans have been left alone to fend for themselves as their families are not allowed to join them in the UK.

The rally also called for immediate health care support including vaccination to Nepal and was joined by Sikhs and veterans from other communities, some of who travelled all the way from Scotland.


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