Gurkha Satyagraha to go on a hunger strike from July 1

LONDON: The Gurkha Satyagraha Sangharsh Samiti (or simply ‘the Gurkha Satyagraha’) has sent a memorandum to the British Prime Minister, warning that three of its leaders would go on a hunger strike from July 1 if their demands are not met.

Organising a video press conference Tuesday morning, a group of Gurkha campaigners read their memorandum out in public before they posted it to Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The memorandum, signed by Krishna Bahadur Rai, chief coordinator of the Gurkha Satyagraha Campaign, has accused the British government of remaining silent and showing no interest in resolving the issue even three years after the technical body submitted a 13-point recommendation report to address the demands of the Gorkhas.

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The Gurkha Satyagraha has demanded a formation of a committee for dialogue between Nepal and the British government to address the demands of the British ex-Gurkha veterans, particularly equal pensions.

The memorandum states that if their demands are not addressed, three of the leaders of the campaign, Gyan Raj Rai (army no.21161741), Dhan Bahadur Gurung (army no. 21163622), and Mrs. Pushpa Rana Ghale (wife of 21160659 Tara Ghale), would go on a hunger strike from July 1, 2021.

Director of the Gurkha Satyagraha Mr Gyan Raj Rai also confirmed that once the hunger strike kicks off, other campaigners would join them.