KATHMANDU: In a meeting of the Parliamentary State Affairs Committee today, representatives of former British Gurkha soldiers demanded that Nepalese citizenship granted by descent be continued, not treated as a new grant.

British Gurkha veteran Krishna Kumar Rai stated the core issue is whether Nepalese youths recruited into the British army will lose their citizenship or if it will continue. He highlighted Nepal receives about 210 million British pounds annually as compensation for the Gurkhas’ contribution to the British Army. Rai argued that discontinuing citizenship rights of recruits violates fundamental human rights.

Currently, about 3,500 Nepali youths serve as Gurkha soldiers in the British army, with approximately 22,000 veterans. Rai emphasized the need for dialogue between Nepal and Britain to resolve issues such as citizenship status after service or wartime casualties, stressing that those who die fighting for Britain should be recognized as British, while those who return should retain Nepali citizenship.

He also pointed out the need to improve arrangements to repatriate Gurkha soldiers or their families in cases of adverse events, highlighting the 210-year friendship between Nepal and Britain fostered by the Gurkhas.

Another veteran, Himal Rai, underlined the importance of continuing citizenship by descent, noting Nepal receives continuous financial benefits without any direct investment, thanks to the contributions of these skilled soldiers.

The parliamentary committee held discussions on these concerns related to the amendment of the Nepal Citizenship Act, 2063. Earlier, the Parliamentary Committee on International Relations and Tourism had directed necessary actions to address the justice and equality demands raised by the British Gurkha veterans.