PM Brown orders to review all issues related to Gurkhas

Following the request made by the prestigious Victoria Cross winner Tul Bahadur Pun, newly elected British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has ordered the Defense Ministry to review all issues related to the British Gurkhas and their families.

Pun, who is currently in London for treatment met British PM Brown soon after reaching in Britain following an immigration battle. He initially had his settlement visa for Britain rejected, though British officials have reversed that decision.

84-year-old Pun had met British PM Brown at Downing Street, London and had urged British government to revise its decision regarding the rights conferred to Gurkhas.

"You have been a very brave and courageous man and we would like to help you in whatever way possible," British newspaper Mirror quoted Brown as saying. "Your bravery is something which we would all wish to celebrate, thank you very much," Brown further said and assured his support to Pun's cataract operation.

"To be here and greet the prime minister of Britain makes me absolutely pleased and is something I have never imagined before," Pun told media persons there. "The Prime Minister said some very nice things and said he would consider my requests for my Gurkha comrades."

Pun was awarded the highest military honour Victoria Cross for single handedly storming a Japanese military position equipped with machine gun in Burma in 1945.

British PM Brown while addressing parliament directed the concerned authorities to start immediate review of all issues related to the Gurkhas. 

The news has come as a great relief for the retired British Gurkhas who have been demanding pension and other perks equal to their British counterparts.

In March this year, the British Defence Ministry had announced to provide equal pensions to the Gurkhas retiring after July 1997. However, GAESO has been persistent in its demand that all retired Gurkhas be provided pensions and other perks at par with their British counterparts.

This decision by the Brown administration will benefit some 40,000 retired British Gurkha soldiers.

British Gurkhas were awarded 13 Victoria Crosses in the Second World War, and Pun is one of only four winners still alive. Gurkas have been serving in the British army since 1815.

Prince Harry Joins the Gurkhas

Meanwhile, Britain's Prince Harry has joined one of the most fearsome units in the British Army — the Gurkhas, according to a report in The Sun magazine.

Harry, a 22-year-old officer with posh cavalry regiment the Blues and Royals, is doing a spell with the legendary Nepali fighters to learn their killer expertise. Earlier on Sunday, he was driven to the Brecon Beacons in Wales with men of the 3rd Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles for a four-day exercise.

Harry joined the tough men from Nepal — who have struck terror into Britain’s enemies for 200 years — looking ready for action kitted out in full camouflage gear.

At the end of the exercise 2nd lieutenant Harry, whose own unit has gone to Iraq without him because of fears for his safety, will be presented with an honorary kukri — the curved knife of the Gurkhas.

 “Harry will be told that when the kukri leaves its sheath it can never be returned without blood being drawn,” reports said.