The shocking videos posted by the BSF jawan, Tej Bahadur Yadav, has caused a considerable social media backlash with an overwhelming population criticising the government for the soldiers’ miserable living conditions.
The video, originally posted on YouTube has now gone viral on social media platforms with leaders from non-BJP parties slamming the so-called ‘champions’ of nationalism.
In the video, the soldier even expresses his fear that he may not be alive after posting the video on social media platforms.
Tej Bahadur of 29 battalion goes on to narrate the despicable condition soldiers are forced to live despite politicians of certain hue using their names to extract electoral mileage for themselves.
The soldier says that they are often forced to sleep empty stomach even though there’s no dearth of food supply to the armed forces. He appeals to Prime Minister to intervene to make situation better for them.
The BSF, in its defence, accused the aggrieved soldier of being ‘habitual offender of absenteeism without permission’ and ‘chronic alcoholism.’
The BSF said in its statement, “The soldier is a habitual offender of absenteeism without permission, chronic alcoholism and misbehaving with superior officers…For such reasons, individual (Tej Bahadur) has served mostly in headquarters under supervision of some dedicated superior officer.”
The statement by the BSF did not go down well with the social media users, who asked why the paramilitary force had deployed the soldier in question on a sensitive location with weapons when there were so serious complaints against him.
Here are some reactions;
@BSF_India : It's heartbreaking to read this politician like statement 4m a force which always holded high respect of ppl. Shame
— Naveen Shahi #Rahulian #RIP_RTI (@Naveen_Kr_Shahi) January 10, 2017
https://twitter.com/rachnaburman/status/818706256965812224
This is incredibly shocking…Our army is our pride…this jawan is definitely voicing for many am sure. #Salute him for standing up. ??? https://t.co/UTs4yn9Q26
— Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) January 10, 2017
Why is he on critical and sensitive postings and above all-armed- if what you claim is true. His appeal must be inquired into surely https://t.co/J0DSAe3CdV
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) January 10, 2017
BSF Jawan Shares Plight in Facebook Video, Seeks PM Modi's Attention https://t.co/oXJfpOjzzJ. Gutted, distraught & above all Ashamed!!!
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) January 9, 2017
https://twitter.com/dhirajwarkhede/status/818713271024910337
https://twitter.com/Engineer_PKS/status/818710225347837952