Ex Gurkha announces a hunger strike at Downing Street

Dhan Bahadur Gurung, a long time activist of the Gurkha movement, has announced a hunger strike accusing the British government of being indifferent towards the demands of the former Gurkhas.

If the British government does not address the issues raised by the Gurkha movement within the month of April, the hunger strike will  start from May 1, he declared.

Gurung, who is also the secretary of the United Gurkha Satyagraha Struggle Committee UK, is planning a hunger strike in front of the British Prime Minister’s Office at 10 Downing Street in London.

We Gurkhas have been involved in the movement for three decades. The legitimate demands raised by us could not be heard ‘, he said in a conversation with Nepali Link,’ We have taken all possible measures. We made every effort. Now that nothing else has happened, there is no choice but to sit in front of them.

Saying that it is better to die as a hero than to live in fear, he has expressed his determination not to rest without concluding the fight against the historical injustice to the Gurkhas.

Gurung accused the British government of repeatedly lieing and deceiving the  Gurkhas. ‘Instead, we are ready to give our lives, but we cannot remain silent about the historical injustice and discrimination against us’, he said.

Gurung says the deadline for the British government is April. “We are no longer tempted by sweet talk and temptation. We still have about four and a half months.If our demands are not addressed by then, our hunger strike will not be stopped under any circumstances. We will not break the fast until the Gurkhas get justice. ‘

Along with Gurung, Gyan Raj Rai, director of the Gurkha Satyagraha Struggle Committee, and Pushpa Ghale, a Gurkha widow in Nepal, have also stated that they will go on a hunger strike from May 1.

Earlier, in 2013, the hunger strike by Gyan Raj Rai in front of the British Prime Minister’s Office had garnered a lot of interest from the British and the international community in favor of the Gurkha movement.