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Gurkha letters

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Mr Gerald Howarth MP

The House of Commons,

Westminster,

London,

SW1A 0AA

Date: 24th October 2011

Dear Mr. Howarth,

Further to receipt of your letter dated 19th October 2011, I am yet again astonished that you have succeeded in insulting myself and our British-Gurkha community settled in the UK.

You state, “People settling in our country do need to understand that freedom of expression is a core value of the British people”.

I absolutely agree with you. As a fellow British citizen, although not a resident of Aldershot (bizarrely, you seem to think it a prerequisite to have an opinion on this matter), I am quite entitled to express my utter disgust with your ill-thought remarks about my British-Gurkha community.

The UK Border Agency regularly struggles to trace hundreds of thousands of migrants, legal or illegal, entering the UK. Given this fact, I would be very interested to learn of your source of information that states quite emphatically that “200 [Gurkhas] per month” are entering the UK.

On the other hand, quite recently, the University of Kent has published an empirical research on Gurkha integration in the UK. The report findings are in stark contrast to the myth you perpetuate of Gurkhas being a burden on their local constituency. It reveals conclusively that, “Gurkhas are the most economically active and self-reliant social group in Britain.” I wonder if you would be gracious enough to quote these studies in future?

Freedom of expression undoubtedly a noble value has been espoused by many a persons to justify their quiet frankly reprehensible views.

As a constituent MP with a sizeable Gurkha population, your ill-thought remarks have alienated your own Gurkha constituents and stirred racial hatred among your local constituents. Indeed, your remarks were categorically condemned by the Prime Minister for its “emotive language.” British Citizens would do well to heed the Prime Minister’s advice. Your remarks really have no place in 21st century Britain.

You state you accept that Gukhas have given loyal service to the British Army. Then you should also accept the glaring fact that the Gurkhas continue to be treated unequally in many aspects of their army service, in stark contract to their British comrades.

I am still expecting you to issue me with a personal apology and to apologise to the British-Gurkha community who you have so deeply offended.

Yours sincerely,

Balkrishna Gurung

Page updated October 28th 2011 at 3pm

Please see below Mr Balkrishna Gurung's response to Gerald Howarth MP