If you had won the highest honour a nation can give how would you feel to be told that you are not welcome?

Question

I'm talking about the Gurkhas. The man in question, 84-year-old Tul Bahadur Pun won the Victoria Cross fighting for us but Britain's Home Office told him: "You have failed to demonstrate that you have strong ties with the UK." The Gurkhas have always been one of the first into action wherever the British Army is sent, is there really anyone that would begrudge them the same pension and rights as any British soldier no matter where they decide to live?

Answer 1

I think it is a crying shame what they have done to this gurka i work along side some of them while at tattoo and they are very polite and well mannered people and dont deserve how the british goverment is treating this former gurka

Answer 2

First off - he has been granted the right to live in the UK.

Secondly, the 'ties' were friends / family, this is a standard thing they look for in ALL countries when they want to settle (not that I am saying its right).

Now another issue is that it is somewhere in the agreement between UK & Nepal that they cannot settle in the UK, this is because it was feared that people would join the army, move to the UK along with their families and then leave.

Now THE LAW IS A BLOODY *** !!!! AS YOU POINT OUT THE GURKHAS ARE NOT ONLY ONE OF THE FEIRCEST & COMPETENT FIGHTERS WHO HAVE FOUGHT ALL OVER THE WORLD FOR US - THEY ARE THE MOST LOVED AND RESPECTED GROUP IN THE BRITISH ARMY (Just after the Chelsea Pensioners).

If anyone does think that they do not deserve the same pension rights they are a damn, tight fisted fool.

Answer 3

I am personally ashamed the way Gurkha's are treated. These are some of the bravest and most courageous men I've ever meet.
They are also very proud and take pride in serving the Crown. When I was in the Army we did a parade which involved Gurkha's when they got of the coach they arrived on they were given tea and biscuits after they'd finished them they swept the crumbs they'd dropped up off the pavement and put them in a bin.
As soon as the volunteer for the British Army they should be given full British Citizenship as recognition for their service.
Would rather have 10,000 Gurkha's than one illegal immigrant.

Answer 4

I have the greatest of respect and admiration for these men from Nepal. Not only for being the BRITISH REGIMENT with the highest number of VC's but also for enduring the despicable way that successive British Government's have treated them!! Despite the decision by the Home Office to reverse the original decision
how could any decent, logical thinking person in this country deny this man the right to live here based on the Home Office's reasoning in the first place, whilst allowing access & full residential privileges to people whose only reason for being here is to milk the system for all it's worth and at the same time plotting our downfall & spouting vilification for all we stand for.
If left to me every man jack of the Gurkha Regiment, serving or retired, would be granted FULL British citizenship and all it's privileges. They've feckin well earned it!!

Answer 5

Not just this Ghurka, every ghurka is treated badly. The ghurkas are not part of the British Army, they fight voluntarily and with more ferocity and skill than anyone, for a country that does ont accept them as equals. It is dispicable. A British Army pension is not the best of things in any case, and to not allow Ghurkas a level playing field is shocking form.

Answer 6

The Gurkhas are one of the finest fighting units when it comes to weapon to weapon armed combat...I myself who served our country know the feeling when it comes to Medals for bravoury, some of the serving members of my unit threw their medals in a trash can because of how he was debrifed for his bravoury. Our troops have to account for every shot that is fired, the enemy do not. The gurkhas deserve every recognition as well as an army pension, especially if they have served this country for more than 22 years. The trouble is we have the old school tie types running our country....they need to go out to Iraq and see the young men and women serving and are ready to sacrifice themselves for the price of freedom.

Answer 7

I'd leave my Victoria Cross on the doorstep on No.10 and wait for the media to their hands on the story. He would get the pension he deserves very quickly. And if he didn't he'd get a fat fee from the press to tell his story.
We all owe so much to the Gurkhas and we should NEVER forget our debts- we do so at our own peril.

Answer 8

How I would feel has little to do with it. The man concerned has i understand been let into the country. However was his service mentioned in his application if so someone should be hung drawn and quartered metaphorically speaking of course

I am horrified by this Country's treatment of wounded and veterans, which has always been abysmal but has got worse since the Blairina can into power

Answer 9

If we all had the courage honer and loyalty as does the Gurkha soldier this Country of ours would be blessed indeed.The cap badge of the Gurkha is not worn but won.and in his hour of need we should be gratefull,and do everything in our power to see that they are looked after.written by ex.British soldier and not some non serving Politician.

Answer 10

we the Brits owe the Gurkha's so very much and I for one will always be extremely grateful that they was on OUR side......

There was always a problem with their pay and pensions from way back....in the 70's there was a very public case of a guy that had served and to collect his pension from the nearest town to his village he would have to be carried over mountains for 5 days............by his sons also serving with honour in the Gurkha's.........the publicity that came of this case changed things but from this I see not very much.

We should NEVER forget how they helped us nor forget if they turned on us we would be in deep doo doo.

Regards