20/3/2008
Local News
Gurkhas march for pensionsA GROUP of retired Gurkha soldiers were due to march in Parliament Square yesterday to protest what they feel is their “unfair” treatment at the hands of the Ministry of Defence.
Representatives from the Aldershot branch of the Gurkha United Front were joined by former Rushmoor Labour councillor Alex Crawford. They are calling on the Government to give all retired Gurkha soldiers the same pension deals as their British counterparts.
Mr Crawford, who is supporting the veterans’ campaign, has arranged a meeting between the Gurkhas and junior Government minister, Laura Moffatt MP.
Jyan Sherchan, who was in the British Army for 29 years, is among the Gurkha veterans joining the march.
Despite recent improvements to the Army’s pensions allocations, retired Gurkhas are still collecting less than what their British counterparts are collecting.
Mr Sherchan, who retired with the rank of Warrant Officer of the Queen’s Gurkha Officers in 2007, said he was collecting £200 per month whereas retired British officers of a similar rank were collecting closer to £1,000.
He claimed the Ministry of Defence was misleading the Government about how much retired Gurkhas received.
The 48-year-old said: “We want the Government to hear our voice and we want the public of this country to listen and support us.
“You can read the news of what [the Gurkhas] are doing, how they are fighting with the British soldiers.”
Recent press coverage of Prince Harry’s time in Afghanistan featured images of the Prince interacting with Gurkha soldiers – even carrying a Gurkha knife (Kukri) in his rucksack.
Mr Sherchan said this was proof that Gurkhas were valued as much as any other soldier. A GROUP of retired Gurkha soldiers were due to march in Parliament Square yesterday to protest what they feel is their “unfair” treatment at the hands of the Ministry of Defence.
Representatives from the Aldershot branch of the Gurkha United Front were joined by former Rushmoor Labour councillor Alex Crawford. They are calling on the Government to give all retired Gurkha soldiers the same pension deals as their British counterparts.
Mr Crawford, who is supporting the veterans’ campaign, has arranged a meeting between the Gurkhas and junior Government minister, Laura Moffatt MP.
Jyan Sherchan, who was in the British Army for 29 years, is among the Gurkha veterans joining the march.
Despite recent improvements to the Army’s pensions allocations, retired Gurkhas are still collecting less than what their British counterparts are collecting.
Mr Sherchan, who retired with the rank of Warrant Officer of the Queen’s Gurkha Officers in 2007, said he was collecting £200 per month whereas retired British officers of a similar rank were collecting closer to £1,000.
He claimed the Ministry of Defence was misleading the Government about how much retired Gurkhas received.
The 48-year-old said: “We want the Government to hear our voice and we want the public of this country to listen and support us.
“You can read the news of what [the Gurkhas] are doing, how they are fighting with the British soldiers.”
Recent press coverage of Prince Harry’s time in Afghanistan featured images of the Prince interacting with Gurkha soldiers – even carrying a Gurkha knife (Kukri) in his rucksack.
Mr Sherchan said this was proof that Gurkhas were valued as much as any other soldier.
First printed in:
Surrey Hants Star
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