A Hounslow Gurkha has criticised new rules on the eligibility of veterans to stay in the UK as a “deep injustice” to his community.

Dharma Tamang, 48, of Standard Road, who travelled to parliament on Friday to hear the announcement, said he was crushed with the news thousands of his friends would never gain full UK rights-many of who died before today’s announcement.

The Government claimed new legislation would lead to another 4,300 to settle, but critics claim only 100 men will meet the criteria which calls for men to have served more than 20 years and had a serious illness through duty.

Mr Tamang, who served in the Army for 15 years, said he knew five men who had died not knowing if they could gain permanent residency.

He said: “This announcement has made me desperately unhappy and I feel deep injustice in my heart. The criteria are almost impossible to meet unless you are of an officer standard. I know colleagues in Hounslow who served the Queen and the country who are relying on their relatives for housing, who can’t work and can’t do anything.

“They can’t use any facilities and to us that is just not right. We will not give up campaigning for the Government to do right by us. But we are going through a lot of pain at the moment. I know one man who was waiting for this announcement, he is critical condition in hospital, this will break his heart.”

Home Office criteria means Gurkha and their families will be allowed to stay in the UK if they meet at least one of five requirements; three years of continuous residence in the UK, close family in the country, 20 or more years of service, a level one to three bravery award, and a serious medical condition caused or aggravated by service.

Or veterans can gain residency if they meet at least two of an additional set of three criteria.

These are having been awarded a MoD disability pension but no longer having a chronic condition, having been mentioned in dispatches, and 10 years' service or a campaign medal.

Hounslow councillor Paul Lynch, who has campaigned for additional resources for Gurkha families, said: “This was something we should have seen coming a long time ago, it was always going to be difficult and these new criteria are not going to stop the row.”

It is estimated Hounslow’s Gurkha population has risen since the last census from 200 to 500. Gurka's have served in the British Army for almost 200 years and it is estimated 45,000 have lost their lives fighting for Britain.