Click to play videoLondon: The Gurkhas have the reputation of being amongst the toughest soldiers in the world, whether they were in the British army or the Indian forces.
However, the Gurkhas in Britain have not been treated at par with the other British forces when it comes to pension benefits.
Even though concessions were given last year, thousands of retired soldiers are still fighting for equal pensions.
So, as a mark of protest, the Gurkha soldiers are giving up their medals – symbols of their service to the British army as a mark of protest.
“It is the saddest day of my life,” said a solider, as he put his medal in a bag. He was followed by several others.
Their demands are not outrageous - they merely want equal pensions and citizenship rights like their British counterparts.
Gary Ghale served the British army for over 20 years but his pension is almost a pittance.
“I receive a pension but that is far, far less than my British counterparts,” said Ghale who is paid merely one-sixth of what his British colleagues get.
Last year, the Ministry of Defence announced that soldiers who retired post July 1, 1997 – when Hong Kong, the former base of the Gurkhas, was handed over to China – would receive the same pension as the rest of the British army. These soldiers could also apply for citizenship.
However, this deal did not include thousands of soldiers, who retired before the cut-off date of July 1997.
Many of them now live in harsh conditions in Nepal. These soldiers say they, too, deserve the same benefits and have now sought political support.
“You are not asking much,” agreed Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg. “You are simply asking that you should be treated with the respect and honour which you deserve, as brave, long-serving soldiers serving our country.
Clegg said, “I will do my best to end this discrimination.”
Highlighting a repercussion of this discriminatory practice is Capt (Retd) Bhakta Limbu, who has now settled in the UK.
“My father, who served in the Britsh army retired in 1984 can't come to the UK to settle down with me,” he said.
“I retired in 2005 and now I have settled down and have become a citizen. So even within the family, we are apart,” he said.
These brave Gurkhas have fought for the British but now they are fighting against the very establishment. They want equal pensions and citizenship rights but more than that, they say this fight is for honour and respect.
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