This is what we feed our armed forces? BSF jawan's video is heartbreaking
Perhaps the life of a soldier is only important to the government when it is used as rhetoric to suit their own agenda. It doesn’t matter how much one sings praises of the armed forces, if the country’s government does zilch to make the lives of soldiers – guarding our country from attacks – easier.
In a series of videos, Tej Bahadur Yadav, a soldier who claims to be from the 29th battalion of the Border Security Force in Jammu and Kashmir, shows the world, just how difficult life is for him and his brethren.
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| Photo: Facebook |
In his videos, the 40-year-old constable says, "We only get a parantha and tea as breakfast and this is without any pickle or butter or jam. For lunch, we get dal. This dal has nothing but turmeric and salt. How is a jawan expected to do his duty like this?”
He claims that the reason soldiers are not being fed properly because of the corruption at top levels. In a bid to make a few extra bucks, these honchos make living difficult for those who protect our borders. Yadav makes these videos to highlight the problems being faced by him and his fellow soldiers. He wants strict action to be taken by the authorities.
“From morning to evening we work, standing in all weather conditions. No matter the rain, no matter the snow, in all conditions we do our duty, but neither the media nor any minister pay heed to our problems”, he says.
These videos posted by Yadav have gone massively viral on Facebook. With collective views of over 5 million, even the Border Security Force has had to respond to it.
"BSF is highly sensitive to the welfare of tps(troops). Individual aberrations, if any, are enquired into. A senior officer has already rchd (reached) the location," came a tweet from the BSF official Twitter handle.
BSF is highly sensitive to the welfare of tps.Individual aberrations,if any,are enquired into.A senior officer has already rchd the location https://t.co/3fH7qZdV5P
— BSF (@BSF_India) January 9, 2017
The Economic Times reports that a senior BSF official said Yadav is currently deployed along the LoC in J&K and the BSF jawans here work under the operational command of the army which also provides for "food and other logistics of the jawans". The report also states that Yadav has been had disciplinary issues in the past, but a full investigation into the allegations made by Yadav has been ordered.
This story has received a lot of attention from political factions as well.
I have seen a video regarding a BSF jawan's plight. I have asked the HS to immediately seek a report from the BSF & take appropriate action.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) January 9, 2017
BSF Jawan Tej Bahadur Yadav raises corruption issue in forces. @manoharparrikar should act for the welfare of soldiers standing on border. pic.twitter.com/J9WLlc91kL
— Gaurav Pandhi (@GauravPandhi) January 9, 2017
Perhaps finally, the armed forces may receive some long-overdue justice.