Sacked BSF jawan, who complained of bad quality food, to contest Lok Sabha poll against PM Modi from Varanasi seat

The BSF constable, who was dismissed from service in 2017 after he posted a video online complaining about the substandard food served to the troops, has said he would take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Varanasi constituency in Uttar Pradesh.

"I will contest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Varanasi constituency as an independent candidate," Tej Bahadur Yadav told reporters in Rewari, Haryana on Friday.

Yadav said he wanted to contest the polls to eliminate corruption in the forces. "I had raised the issue of corruption but I was sacked. My first objective will be to strengthen and eliminate corruption in the forces," he said.

He had uploaded a video on social media in 2017, complaining that poor quality food was being served to the troops in icy, mountainous region along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. He was later dismissed on the charge of indiscipline.

Yadav had uploaded a video about the quality of food which had gone viral on social media.

In the video that had sparked nationwide outrage, Yadav, a BSF soldier of the 29 battalion Seema Suraksha Bal, said that the troops were not even getting basic three square meals.

Yadav, in a series of Facebook posts, had said that the government has been doing enough to provide the security forces with essential items, but it is the BSF officials who are indulged in wrongdoings.

Yadav also posted other videos showing a poorly baked 'chapati' and dal which he said had "nothing except salt and turmeric".

In the videos, Yadav is seen accusing the high-ranking officers of selling the items being provided by the government to fill their pockets.

The BSF jawan had said, "How can a person like him stand in duty for 10-11 hours in harsh conditions after having a pathetic meal?"

The video posted by him showed that for breakfast, "only 'paranthas' and a cup of tea is provided, with not a single piece of pickle or butter."

"Dal, which is given during lunch, has only salt and turmeric (in the name of spices), with no jeera, onion, garlic or tomatoes."

Following the incident, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) had sought a report from the Home Ministry.