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| Former Gurkha faces deportation | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A Nottingham man who served as a Gurkha in the British Army for 15 years has expressed his anger at a decision to deport him. | |
| Purna Gurung, 55, also faces a huge medical bill after his wife collapsed and remained in a diabetic coma for 10 days. She is still in hospital. | Purna Gurung, 55, also faces a huge medical bill after his wife collapsed and remained in a diabetic coma for 10 days. She is still in hospital. |
| Mr Gurung served in the Brigade of Gurkhas between 1971 and 1986. | |
| He told BBC News that he feels let down, angry and worried about will happen in the future. | He told BBC News that he feels let down, angry and worried about will happen in the future. |
| Peter Carroll, the MP for Folkestone, the UK-base of the Gurkhas, has been campaigning for a better deal for the soldiers. | |
| He said Mr Gurung's plight was "morally outrageous" and added that "sadly it's typical of dozens and dozens of other cases." | He said Mr Gurung's plight was "morally outrageous" and added that "sadly it's typical of dozens and dozens of other cases." |
| The government has tried to be as fair as possible in it is treatment of Armed Forces veterans - including ex-Gurkhas Home Office statement | The government has tried to be as fair as possible in it is treatment of Armed Forces veterans - including ex-Gurkhas Home Office statement |
| Gurkhas who retired after 1997 can automatically stay in the UK, but those who retired earlier must apply. | Gurkhas who retired after 1997 can automatically stay in the UK, but those who retired earlier must apply. |
| Newark MP Patrick Mercer, a former Army officer, said he was appalled that any soldier could be treated in such a way. | Newark MP Patrick Mercer, a former Army officer, said he was appalled that any soldier could be treated in such a way. |
| "Any officer who has served in the British Army, normal immigration and deportation rules should be waived," he said. | "Any officer who has served in the British Army, normal immigration and deportation rules should be waived," he said. |
| Following the partition of India in 1947, an agreement between Nepal, India and Britain meant four Gurkha regiments from the Indian army were transferred to the British Army, eventually becoming the Gurkha Brigade. | Following the partition of India in 1947, an agreement between Nepal, India and Britain meant four Gurkha regiments from the Indian army were transferred to the British Army, eventually becoming the Gurkha Brigade. |
| Since then, the Gurkhas have fought for the British all over the world, receiving 13 Victoria Crosses between them. | Since then, the Gurkhas have fought for the British all over the world, receiving 13 Victoria Crosses between them. |
| Right of appeal | Right of appeal |
| A spokesperson for the Home Office said they were unable to comment on individual cases. | A spokesperson for the Home Office said they were unable to comment on individual cases. |
| She said: "The government has tried to be as fair as possible in it is treatment of Armed Forces veterans - including ex-Gurkhas. | She said: "The government has tried to be as fair as possible in it is treatment of Armed Forces veterans - including ex-Gurkhas. |
| "1 July 1997 is significant as this was the date that the Gurkhas became a UK-based force on completion of the withdrawal from Hong Kong. | "1 July 1997 is significant as this was the date that the Gurkhas became a UK-based force on completion of the withdrawal from Hong Kong. |
| "Where a person has been refused further leave, there is a full right of appeal against the decision to the independent courts. We would not remove someone with an outstanding appeal." | "Where a person has been refused further leave, there is a full right of appeal against the decision to the independent courts. We would not remove someone with an outstanding appeal." |
| A member of the public has offered to cover the medical costs of Mr Gurung's wife. | A member of the public has offered to cover the medical costs of Mr Gurung's wife. |