Ex-Gurkhas may get ex-Indian Army men's facilities

Visiting Indian Army Chief Gen. Dalbir Singh Suhag said Thursday that the Indian government is contemplating providing to former Gurkhas welfare facilities similar to Indian Army ex-personnel.

The Gurkhas have made important contributions in the Indian Army, he said during a meeting with Nepalese Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, who also looks after the defence portfolio, adding that "we are positive to provide equal facilities to ex-Gurkhas as ex-Indian army's men."

If the Indian government provides such parity, the ex-Gurkhas will enjoy medical and canteen facilities among others.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Private Secretariat, the Indian Army chief has recommended the integration and rehabilitation of former Maoist militants with the Nepal Army and of some in Nepali society.

"This is set to create a new history in the world," said Gen. Singh. During Thursday's meeting, he and the prime minister recalled the historic relations between the two armies.

Koirala said that Nepal and India have excellent relations in every front and hailed the India's contributions to Nepal's socio-economic development.

He also briefly touched upon the contemporary Nepali politics and the ongoing constitution drafting bid and said that Nepali leaders would be able to promulgate a new constitution by Jan 22, the date set by the Nepali politicians.

"We have successfully ended the decade-long civil war and insurgency, finally integrated and managed the insurgents, but we still have some disputes. Our efforts are on to resolve these disputes by consensus," said the prime minister.

The issue of federalism like number of states and on what bases these states should be formed, is one of the key contentious issues, he said.

The Indian Army chief arrived in Kathmandu Wednesday on a four-day visit at the invitation of Nepal's army chief Gen. Gaurav Sumsher Rana.

Later Thursday, he will be conferred with the honorary title of Nepal Army General in a function organised at Nepal's President's Office. Nepal and India have a long tradition of exchanging the honorary tiles between each other's armies.

(Anil Giri can be contacted at girianil@gmail.com)