NEW DELHI – An Indian soldier, who had told his plight to the world byuploading videos on the substandard food served to soldiers in OccupiedKashmir, will contest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the upcomingIndian elections.
According to the Indian media, former Border Security Force (BSF) constableTej Bahadur Yadav has decided to fight the polls from the Varanasiconstituency in Uttar Pradesh against Modi.
Tej Bahadur Yadav, a resident of Haryana, claimed that despite beingapproached by several parties he would contest as an independent candidate,aiming to raise the issue of corruption in the Indian forces by contestingthe election.
He said that “My motive is not to win or lose. It is to highlight how thisgovernment has failed the forces, especially paramilitary forces.”
He criticized the Indian prime minister by saying that “PM Modi seeks votesin the name of our jawans but has done nothing for them. Our paramilitaryjawans (CRPF men) killed recently in Pulwama were not even given martyrstatus by this government.”
Yadav was dismissed from BSF in 2017 after he took to the social media tocomplain about the quality of food being served to the forces in Jammu andKashmir. In his viral videos, Yadav had alleged that the senior officialsillegally sold off the food supplies meant for the troopers, adding that hewas “mentally tortured” in the army.
Former Border Security Force (BSF) constable Tej Bahadur Yadav had sparkeda debate with his viral videos by uploading the videos on social mediaregarding substandard food served to Indian soldiers and corruption amongthe Indian army.
Days after the solider criticised the army and government in a series ofvideos on social media, army chief General Bipin Rawat, had warned thatarmy personnel who do not use “proper, specified channels” to air theirgrievances would be liable to be punished.