Ex-Gorkhas seek recruitment revival as Indian Army chief visits Nepal
Summary
Former Gorkha soldiers have urged Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth to resume recruitment of Nepali youths, which has been suspended since 2020. Veterans also pressed for faster pension verification and payment for thousands of widows affected by record discrepancies.
Key Points
- Former Gorkha soldiers asked Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth to restart recruitment of Nepali youths into the Indian Army.
- The Agnipath scheme was not discussed in high-level talks in Kathmandu, and Seth made no commitment on reviving recruitment.
- Veterans also raised delays in family pension payments, saying thousands of widows cannot claim benefits because of document mismatches.
- The Indian Army chief’s visit focused on bilateral military relations, joint training and strategic cooperation, along with an honorary rank conferral.
