GURKHA veterans in Reading have stepped up their campaign to honour the heroes among their ranks by beginning a hunger strike relay.

Veterans, politicians and neighbours are petitioning at Parliament Square in London today , the same day the relay begins, after the Government refused to answer their calls for equal pensions.

Gyanraj Rai, a Reading bus driver, said: “We have given a six month ultimatum to Downing Street to fulfil our just and genuine, long-overdue demands. The Prime Minister has written a letter to us showing keen interest to resolve our issues through dialogue and has assured us that Defence Minister Mark Francois would soon write to us in detail as regards the proposed dialogue.

“Unfortunately, we have not received any response from Downing Street. Therefore, we have been preparing for the relay hunger strike and the hunger-strike-unto-death.”

The united Gurkha Satyagraha campaign was launched in April demanding equal pensions for Gurkhas, compensation for years of neglect, equal pensions for their widows, the right to stay in Britain for their adult children, and access to free medical treatment for Gurkhas who have retired in Nepal.

Gurkhas will now take it in turns to fast until Thursday next week, and Mr Rai added: “A hunger-strike-unto-death will follow if the former will not yield any desired outcome.

We have been incessantly campaigning for the last two decades. All the Second World War Gurkha veterans passed away without justice being delivered to them and the same sort of tragedy may occur.”