BSF’s claims not true, says jawan’s family
NEW DELHI: The family of the BSF jawan, who alleged that troops were served bad-quality food and ration meant for them was often sold off, on Wednesday rubbished Border Security Force’s claims that the soldier had issues with intoxication and discipline.
Tej Bahadur Yadav — a member of BSF’s 29th battalion along the India-Pakistan border — posted four videos of poor food arrangements in a Jammu and Kashmir camp on social media that went viral and sparked widespread outrage.
Yadav family said the BSF was trying to malign his image for exposing corruption. “It is sad that they have resorted to questioning his credibility. But everyone knows this is their cover up for his expose,” Hanuman, Yadav’s elder brother, told HT over phone from Rata Kalan in Mahendragarh.
“Ours is a family of soldiers. Tej Bahadur is the youngest of five brothers. One of our elder brothers is also serving in the BSF while a nephew is in the army. Our grandfather was a freedom fighter in Netaji’s force. If he has raised some issue, it is only because he wants our system to improve,” he added.
The family said they don’t want to share the names of Yadav’s brother and nephew, “fearing the forces may indict them as well for some reason or the other.”
Yadav’s parents, however, say they are not aware of such allegations. They only know that their son was ‘extremely upset’ with the food he would get and was seeking voluntary retirement because senior officials would not just listen.
“If he raised any issue, his seniors would foil back with allegations on him. He had come home on leave in December. He would say ‘pashuon wala khana milta hai’ (we get animal’s food),” his father Sher Singh said.
His wife Sharmila, who works in a private company and lives in Rewari, said the issues raised by him were true. “What my husband did is right and for the welfare of the soldiers. It is not wrong to demand food. He has only shown the truth, but these people are saying he is mentally ill. If he was mentally unstable, why was he sent to the border?” news agency ANI quoted her as saying.
(With agency inputs)