Kathmandu: Former British Gurkha soldiers have urged Nepal’s House of Representatives to allow them to retain Nepali citizenship obtained through descent. During a meeting of the State Affairs Committee, representatives of the former soldiers expressed their desire to maintain their existing citizenship rather than being issued new documents.
According to National News Agency Nepal, British Gurkha veteran Krishna Kumar Rai highlighted concerns about the future of Nepali youths in the British army if their citizenship status remains unresolved. He emphasized that Nepal receives an annual sum of approximately 210 million British currency due to the contributions of these soldiers to the British Army, and the lack of citizenship for enlisted youths contradicts human rights principles.
The meeting revealed that there are currently about 3,500 Nepali youths serving in the British Army, alongside around 22,000 retired soldiers. Rai pointed out the inconsistency in recognizing Gurkha soldiers as British citizens in death and Nepali citizens in life, calling for dialogue between Nepal and Britain to address these issues.
Hom Kirati Sunuwar, another former British Gurkha, noted the long-standing role of these soldiers as a bridge of friendship between the two nations since 1814. He stressed that their request is not about acquiring British passports and residency rights but addressing a necessity. Himal Rai, also a former soldier, underscored the economic benefits Nepal receives due to the contributions of Gurkha soldiers without significant financial investments.
The Committee is currently reviewing the proposed amendments to the Citizenship Act of Nepal 2063, considering the ex-soldiers’ demands. Previously, the House of Representatives, International Relations and Tourism Committee, had directed the government to address the justice and equality issues raised by the ex-servicemen.