Gurkha veteran slams government during hunger strike

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Speaking to Express.co.uk, Gurkha veteran Deepak Maskey, 61, hit out at the Government for “penny-pinching” to the detriment of its brave Gurkha veterans as they face a measley pension payment for their military service to Britain. His furious comments come as three Gurkhas will enter their 13th day of hunger strike outside Downing Street on Thursday as they strike as “a last resort” to get equal pay for Gurkhas who fought for Britain and retired prior to 1997 as they are not eligible for a full UK Armed Forces pension. It comes as one striking veteran told how he was paid a pathetic  “£47 a month” while his British counterpart got “£800”. More than 100 people marched through London on Wednesday in support of those on hunger strike.

Mr Maskey explained how the Tri-Partite Agreement which was signed between Britain, Nepal and India states how Gurkhas are to be treated on “equal footing in terms of pay, facilities, everything”.

He said: “They are saying that Gurkhas that retiring back to Nepal therefore [due] to their living conditions and cost of living in Nepal is very low so whatever we are giving is fine.

“That is not fine, that is not fair!”

He said: “We are fighting for your country and you can’t just tell us that whatever you give us for Nepal is good!”

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Mr Maskey stressed how Gurkhas are “not fighting for the Nepali army” and thus should be treated the same as their British counterparts who receive pensions far in excess of Gurkhas.

The veteran added how Gurkhas “have fought in every war, every conflict” for the past 200-years before adding that in that time, Gurkhas have won an astonishing 13 Victoria Crosses for their bravery serving in the British Army.

He said: “You have got to be ashamed of kicking this can down the road for the last 30-years!”

And in a stinging attack on the government’s financial priorities, he said: “You are paying millions of pounds for cheats and benefits and terrorists in this country who have done harm and are no good.”

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Mr Maskey added: “But look at the Gurkhas who have secured your integrity, your freedom, your democracy.

“And we have been here for the last 207 years doing good for this country! And you are hesitating to pay! 

“This country should be really ashamed.” 

His comments come as hunger-striking Gurkha Dhan Gurung was taken ill during his hunger strike because his heart slowed but has now returned to the protest having refused food for an astonishing 12 days.

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A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “We greatly value the huge contribution Gurkhas make to the British Army and ensure they are supported with a generous pension and medical care during retirement in Nepal. We are committed to ensuring the Gurkha Pension Scheme is sustainable and fair alongside other UK public sector pensions.”

More than 200,000 Gurkhas fought in the two world wars, and in the past 50 years they have served in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Borneo, Cyprus, the Falklands, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan.

In 2009, all retired Gurkhas won the right to live in the UK, following a high-profile campaign led by actress Joanna Lumley, whose father served with the 6th Gurkha Rifles.

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