Hundreds of retired Gurkha veterans, many from Kent, held a protest at the Houses of Parliament today over unequal pensions and the right to stay in the country they were prepared to die for.

Gurkhas who retired after 1997 can stay and work in Britain but those who retired earlier have to apply. And the years served by Gurkhas before 1997 do not fully count towards their pensions - each year is counted only as a quarter of a year.

The Gurkhas feel these issues have split them into a two-tier society. Earlier today some protestors handed in their medals to Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, who raised the matter at Prime Minister’s questions in the House of Commons.

Folkestone resident Gopal Giri, who served more than 20 years in the Gurkhas before retiring as a Warrant Officer 2nd Class, said before the protest: “The Government says ‘yes we have given them equal pensions’, but they did not. They have classed us in two groups, before 1997 and after.

“After serving 15 years the Ministry of Defence gave us long service and good conduct medals from the Queen, but we are returning those medals to the Queen.

“We have no choice. We asked politely but they ignored and ignored us and now we need to tell the public about this.”

Demonstration organiser and Shepway Liberal Democrat Peter Carroll: “It is an outrage that Britain still deports retired Gurkhas. If they are good enough to fight and die for us they are good enough to live here with us.”

Museum display dedicated to Gurkha community

Ashford Museum will devote its main display to the town's Nepalese community. The Royal Gurkha Rifles moved to Shorncliffe Barracks in Folkestone in 2000 and since then many of the families have set up home in Ashford.

To launch the exhibition on Saturday, March 29, at 10am there will be a display in Ashford Churchyard, near the museum entrance, with a Gurkha piper and young Nepalese dancers in national dress.

After the displays the exhibition will be opened by Ashford MP Damian Green.

The museum will open on Monday, March 31.