A series of videos circulated by a security personnel deployed in Indian-Administered Kashmir has led India’s Home Ministry to order a probe into the alleged appalling conditions the soldiers are forced to work in.
Tej Bahadur Yadav, a constable in India’s Border Security Force, posted three videos of himself showing the alleged inadequate and tasteless food served to him and other personnel in his battalion.
In the first video, Constable Yadav is seen wearing his uniform and carrying a weapon. He explains how he has to remain on his feet for eleven hours every day. He alleged the low-ranking personnel weren’t getting enough food.
"We only get a 'parantha' and tea as breakfast without any pickle or vegetables... For lunch, we get 'dal' (pulses) which only has 'haldi' (turmeric) and salt... with roti. This is the quality of the food we get. We slog for 11 hours and at times we have to stand throughout the duty hours... how can a jawan do his duty?"
In the subsequent videos, he showed the food served to him and other jawans of his battalion.
Calling for an investigation, he accused the senior officials of the BSF of corruption and pilfering the rations sent by the government of India.
“The government of India supplies everything, but it’s the officials who steal it,” he said.
He also alleged that at times, soldiers have to sleep on empty stomach. He called on India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi to have the matter investigated.
“I don’t know whether I will be around after this, but I urge Prime Minister Narendra Modi to have this matter investigated,” he added.
Although, the Border Security Force initially said Constable Yadav lacked discipline and had been a difficult member of the force, it later said the BSF was sensitive to the welfare of its members.
India’s Home Minister Rajnath Singh has ordered an inquiry after the video went viral on several social media platforms.
"I have seen a video regarding a BSF jawan's plight. I have asked the HS (Home Secretary) to immediately seek a report from the BSF & take appropriate action," he tweeted.
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