VC Hero

[flip_flop]

Tul Bahadur Pun, who fought for us for 18 years and was decorated by Mountbatten in 1944, can't afford medical treatment in his home country and would like to come to Britain for treatment on the NHS.

He has been refused as he has "failed to demonstrate strong ties with the UK".

In the meantime we have Eastern Europeans turning up on our doorstep in their thousands who have immediate access to free treatment on the NHS.

Can somebody please explain to how this is right?

[Scylax]

Of course it isn't right.

It's ideological Socialism; a sort of political
cloud-cuckoo-land, where emotional ideals
are not subjected to the rigours of common-
sense.

As ever, the UK public have no say in the matter.
Everyone knows that politicians have a monopoly
in right-thinking, VCs notwithstanding.

[Neilzulu1]

We should all hang our heads in shame.

[Kathyan]

I think it's disgraceful the way they are treating this man. He served our country and should, therefore, receive medical treatment as soon as possible. I'ts just typical of this government to let in people who do nothing for the country, but try to keep out or send back the ones who do. Ludicrous!

[stokeace]

of course he should recieve nhs treatment i have read the citation he recieved and the bloke nearly died fighting for this country and now the politicians have turned their back on him but immigrants turn up here and qualify for everything from the nhs to council houses and yet they have not contributed to this country in monetary terms never mind risk their lives for us.there should be a petition started and given to tony blair the clown who made this decision should be sacked and tul bahadur pun should be brought to england for treatment immedeatley...........

[NikkiB]

It's utterly disgraceful the way this man is being treated. He can't have known it at the time, but being a war hero and fighting for Britain all those years ago was enough to ensure he's left on the scrapheap. Had he been plotting against this country he not only would have a free house but he'd be able to plug in to every resource the NHS can offer.
It's just another example the utter contempt in which this shambolic Govt holds aged war veterans.
Mr Pun would get treated if he flew here. But the fact that he doesn't make that journey without permission says much for his honourable character. Can't we swap him for Al Hamza, who is hoovering up British taxpayers cash every minute of the day?

[johnizere]

Here's a quiz for you.
Which is the odd one out?
Answers on a postcard to Tony Blair.

1) Mouloud Sihali, Algerian. Lived at Finsbury Park mosque, breeding ground of Islamic terrorism. Described in court as �unprincipled and dishonest�. Illegal immigrant.

2) Yonis Dirie, Somalian. Drug addict, armed robber and burglar. Convicted of raping a young woman in London. Illegal immigrant.

3) Tul Bahadur Pun **, Nepalese. Won the Victoria Cross for taking out a Japanese machinegun post in 1944 in Burma single-handedly. Now 84, of unblemished conduct, suffering from heart problems and diabetes and would like treatment here. Legal applicant.

4) �AS�, Libyan. Islamic extremist involved with Milan terrorist group. Court accepts that he is likely to try to kill us all again quite soon. Illegal immigrant.

You got it, didn�t you? Old Pun�s application was rejected because - and here�s another punchline, in case the first wasn�t funny enough - he �failed to demonstrate� that he had �strong ties with Britain�. How much stronger do you want? There can be hardly a soul who wouldn�t be happy to have Pun here. And not one who could make a case for allowing Dirie, the robber-rapist, say, to get preferential treatment. Some of us would have happily dispatched him back to Mogadishu strapped to a missile.

[jump82]

I think its hypocritical of the govt to deny a past veteran access to the NHS, when he's no longer of any use to them anymore, especially if its a serious medical illness.

[jump82]

johnizere,this is just an idea but although Pun's claim may be genuine and his case should be made an exception, it could be that the govt may have been worried of more war veterans from other prior colonies (and UK had a Lot of them back in 1944) making claims to the NHS in future, which would all boil down to the local people burdening the cost of it all in higher taxes. And somehow I don't think they'd happily pay for it all because they felt it was the right thing to do ....

As for illegal immigrants, that's another story.

[Lonnie]

I can't really add more to all of the above, except DISGUSTING.

[johnizere]

jump....I'm making the case for Pun.

[stokeace]

i would rather pay higher taxes for the likes of someone who has actually done something for this country [and you cant do more than risk your life and win the vc] than pay more for immigrants who come here and havent done jack s**t for anybody except their own kind by bringing them over here to milk our system.you ought to read your comments again jump82 they are very contradicatory .if it wasnt for people like pun and thousands of other soldiers who werent british but served our country you wouldnt be sitting where you are in a free world.he deserves our help 100%...

[Doc Spock]

words just fail me, I feel quite ashamed. He should be flown here first class and given the treatment and respect he deserves, and put his life on the line for.

[stewey]

I don't live in the UK, although I was born there, but if you people initiate a petition in favour of this gentleman receiving what is obviously due to him I will find a way of signing it. Go do it!

[saintpeter48]

who can we all write to in protest over this.

[SHEHE]

I think who ever said that Mr.Pun "failed to demonstrate strong ties to the UK" should get off their backside and do their job properly , it not quit as obviously they are not doing there research . Disgraceful way to treat an old soldier .

[webbo3]

i've just created an e-petition here http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/

not sure how long before it becomes avaliable to sign, its under people and organisations.

[chompu]

Another easy target for some government department to add to their figures so as when complaints are received, alleging that our immigration laws are too lenient, the minister responsible can say 'no they're not last year we refused x number of visas'

[stewey]

Went there, webbo, but can't find it. Will keep trying.

[jake-the-peg]

What is disgraceful is those of you above who are using this man's position to make party political points.

The Gurkhas have been unfairly treated by sucessive British Governments since WWII of both parties. In 1947 an agreement linked their retirement benefits to the Indian army there have been plenty of opportunities for all colour governments to give them a better deal.

In fact Tony Blair granted indefinate leave to remain in the UK to Gurhas who retired to Hong Kong after the 1997 handover. This would have been a good chance to set things right but so would the 1981 British Nationality act that Margaret Thatcherpassed depriving Hong Kong Chinese and Falkland Islanders (amoungst others from the rite of abode in the UK)

Perhaps you should leave him alone and see if you can find some dying children to blame on "Ideological Socialism"

[flip_flop]

Speaking personally I really couldn't give a tinker's cuss about party politics in a case like this - I'm just genuinely amazed that this chap has been refused permission.

There is nothing remotely political in feeling outraged that this chap has been refused permission and yet we have thousands of Romanians etc... who reach our shores and get immediate free treatment on the NHS.

I'm naturally right of centre - but I'd feel just as outraged if I were a left winger.