Nearly 200 Gurkhas have rallied in Winchester to protest against the Ministry of Defence over veterans' pensions

Scores of Nepalese waved signs in Winchester today denouncing "betrayal" over veterans' pensions.

In a passionate speech to crowds outside the historic Westgate, campaign leader Gyanraj Rai said the Gurkha Welfare Trust, a care charity, was "lying" about veterans’ financial needs to save the Government money.

Demonstrators came from across Britain to protest near an event at Winchester's Gurkha Museum celebrating 200 years of Nepalese service to the Crown.

“They are bullying us, exploiting us,” Mr Rai told the Hampshire Chronicle.

“Thousands of people died in the war – there was no compensation. Many of them did not get any pensions or have benefit at all.

“The MoD has been bullying us for many, many years and this year, by the end of next year, it will be 200 years that Britain and Gurkhas are connected together. They are trying to celebrate the anniversary of our good relations, they say.
“If they gave [us] pensions, whatever they should get, then celebrate. We do not celebrate.

“They are lying to the general public, their donors, those who give charity.

“They are always lying. They say in Nepal we don’t have little money to survive with. That’s why they are giving us little money. We work for Britain and they are treating us like Nepalese soldiers, in Nepal.”

Gurkha Satyagraha director Gyanraj Rai addresses crowds at the Westgate

Mr Rai leads Gurkha Satyagraha, a pressure group calling for parity between British soldiers and their Gurkha comrades. In 2013 he went on hunger strike outside Downing Street.

William Shuttlewood, director of the Gurkha Welfare Trust, strongly denied allegations of lying and said the charity works hard to be independent of the MoD.

“The trust is very disappointed to learn that Satyagraha intend to disrupt the celebration of 200 years of Gurkha service in 2015," he said. "It should be an anniversary that we all celebrate, placing our grievances and politics to one side.

“The trust does not engage in the politics of Gurkha service – our business is the delivery of welfare to those in need.”

“We would refute absolutely allegations that the trust has been lying about the welfare of veterans in the UK. We have very good contacts with leaders of all Gurkha communities in the country and brief them regularly over trust issues and get regular feedback.”

The Ministry of Defence has been contacted but has yet to provide a comment.