London, Sep.19(ANI): British Defence Minister Gerald Howarth faced calls to resign yesterday after he said retired Gurkhas must be dispersed in the UK like "asylum seekers".
The Aldershot MP backed constituents who claim local services have been overrun by retired Gurkhas and their families since they were given the right to settle in Britain.
He said that despite being a defence minister, he "got no joy" with help from the MoD.
And he told BBC Radio 5 Live: "There needs to be a policy of dispersal."
Appealing to "any local authority leaders listening", he added: "Why not invite the Nepalese community to come and settle in their areas?"
Bemoaning the strain on the NHS in his constituency, he said: "It's all very well the nation saying we owe these people a debt of gratitude."
When Gurkha campaigner Peter Carroll said he was "aghast", the MP replied: "Don't be so ridiculous - it's a perfectly sensible policy. Dispersal is what we do with asylum seekers."arroll said he would be writing to Prime Minister David Cameron asking him to remove Howarth.
He added he was shocked "brave British Army veterans" were likened to asylum seekers. (ANI)
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