A Gurkha soldier, Gyanraj Rai, is on a hunger strike for the last 15 days over a demand for an adequate pension increase from the pitiful 260 pounds per month at present.
He is demanding that his pension be raised to 1,000 pounds per month.
The extra cost to the exchequer would be under 10 million pounds per annum for the 12,000 veterans (pre-1997) for the number of years they live from now.
It is a small cost to the people who sacrifice their lives for the Queen and the Country.
According to The Hindu Council UK, Gyanraj Rai has said that he is only following his "Dharma", and yet the Ministry of Defence has called him an extremist.
Conservative Member of Parliament Rob Wilson has lent his support to Rai's cause, and the APPG on Gurkha welfare are uniting to lobby this change.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app