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Culture of morality

Very recently Emperor Akahito of Japan visited United Kingdom on an official visit. All pomps and shows were presented as per English tradition during the visit of foreign Head of States. The Queen and the Prime Minister and his government also extended best possible hospitality to visiting Japanese Emperor. But, the Ex-servicemen of British Army, who were Prisoner of War (POW) during World War I and II in the South East regions in Asia; protested the Royal visit for non apology in public for the torture inflected on them by the Japanese while they were POWs. They politely, but disgracefully turned their backs and hooted out to Japanese Emperor. It would have been treated as a crime back home in Asia. But, in UK it was taken by the government as their civil rights and were allowed to do so.

The great Gurkhas of Nepal are still serving British Army, as they are one of the best and most reliable land Force. Until today, the Gurkhas gallantly participated in all Wars - whether that was war with Argentina in Falkland or in the Brunei or anywhere else in the world. But they fought for the British Army. They also duty-fully performed all other assigned tasks during war and in peace. The British Gurkha saga became a legend and history in Nepal. There are millions of Nepalese that are related with this Gurkha saga. Thousands of them are in Nepal spending retired life and few thousands are in British Army working as active army life.

The Gurkhas get almost nothing after their retirement compare to their British counterpart. The former Nepalese Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba initiated the issue and convinced the then Major government in reconsideration of allowances. Recently the British government has decided to enforce the increase of 20 percent on the present rate. The Ex-servicemen association of Gurkhas in Nepal are demanding for 500 percent increase to bring them in par with retired British counterparts. It is not begging. It is their civil right to be treated equally as the Ex-servicemen of the British Army.

The United Nations (UN) charter has accepted that there is no difference in cast, creed and religion. We all are citizens of the UN and therefore it is a moral responsibility of all member nations to treat everyone equally.


   

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