Ex-Gurkha veterans launch hunger strike

KATHMANDU: AUGUST 9 – The ex-Gurkhas who staged a hunger strike in front of the British Prime Minister for the past 17 days demanding equal pension pay now have launched a fast-unto-death campaign.

Gyan Raj Rai, a former Gurkha veteran and hunger striker, shared they were forced to launch fast-unto-death when their demands were not addressed despite repeatedly approaching Nepal and British governments through several mediums.

“We resorted to going for hunger strike when all other alternatives were used”.

In a letter to the Coordinator of the Gorkha Satyagraha Joint Struggle Committee, Krishna Bahadur Rai, last Saturday, the Nepal government urged them to put off a hunger strike noting their demand would be addressed by initiating diplomatic dealing with the British government. However, the agitating side denied the proposal.

Struggle Committee Coordinator Rai said the hunger strike would continue until and unless the British government sends an authorized letter stipulating a date for dialogue.

Former Gurkha veterans, Gyan Raj Rai, Pushpa Ghale and Dhan Bahadur Gurung are sitting for hunger strike.

Various Nepali organizations based in the United Kingdom and British citizens have also demonstrated solidarity for the hunger strike campaign launched by ex-Gurkhas for justice, coordinator Rai shared.

Representatives of Nepali organizations that were established for the welfare of ex-Gurkhas had called on Nepal’s Ambassador to the UK, Lokdarshan Regmi to apprise him of the ongoing relay hunger strike last week.