Kathmandu, March 29:

Member of the Raj Parishad Miss Bhadra Kumari Ghale today apologised in public and tore three pages of her recently-published essay collection, which contain controversial remarks on the wives of British Gurkhas, following vigorous criticism from the wives of Gurkhas.

Ghale, who is also a former minister, had recently written an essay collection Aaimai: Hijo Aaja Bholi (Women: Past, Present and Future).

Reading out a press release at a press conference organised by the Tamu National Council (TNC), she expressed commitment to publish a revised version of the book and requested that the sold books be returned at the TNC office in Anamnagar. I had not intended to hurt the sentiment of the families of all the British Gurkhas, she said, adding: “I am very happy to know that indigenous women are aware enough to point out my mistakes,” she added.

The British Gurkha Family’s Dignity Protection Struggle Committee (BFDPSC) has been protesting against the chapter “Prostitution crafted by Capitalism” of the collection, claiming that the chapter has seriously hurt the sentiments of indigenous women, many of whom are the wives of British Gurkhas.

“Though Ghale has apologised and tore the pages of her book, it will take a long time to heal the damage caused by the published article,” said Bishnu Kumari Subba, the BFDPSC president. She said the book has begun splitting the families by making room for suspicion over the wives of British Gurkhas.

The TNC had taken an initiative to resolve the controversy by forming a 10-member committee with the objective of studying and suggesting the TNC for further action. The team was led by Dr Om Gurung, general secretary of the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN).

Member of the Public Service Commission Prof Dr Ganesh Man Gurung said people should forgive Ghale as she has apologised for her mistake.

Regional administrator of Bagmati zone Dr Shekhar Gurung, chairman of the TNC and

vice-chairman of the Nepal Foundation for the Development of Indigenous Nationalities (NFDIN) Prof Shanta Bahadur Gurung, psychologist Prof Sumaya Rai and a large number of family members of the British Gurkhas had attended the press conference.