#Elections2019: Sacked BSF-jawan to contest against PM Modi in Varanasi
What's the story
Former BSF jawan Tej Bahadur Yadav, who was dismissed from service in 2017 after he complained about the bad quality of food being served to the security forces in a video, has announced that he will be contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Yadav said that he will fight the polls against PM Narendra Modi from his Varanasi constituency in Uttar Pradesh. Here's more.
Information
Issue of corruption in the forces
Yadav said several political parties approached him to join them but he did not. The resident of Haryana's Rewari said he chose to fight polls as an independent candidate. He said he would raise the issue of corruption in the forces by contesting the polls.
Statement
It's to highlight how this government has failed forces: Yadav
Yadav said, "My motive is not to win or lose. It is to highlight how this government has failed the forces, especially paramilitary forces." "PM Modi seeks votes in the name of our jawans but has done nothing for them. Our paramilitary jawans (CRPF men) killed recently in Pulwama were not even given martyr status by this government," he said.
The video
In a video, Yadav questioned the bad quality of food
In April 2017, Yadav posted a video on social media that became a hot topic of national discussion. In the video, he had spoken about the unpalatable food served to soldiers in Jammu & Kashmir. He asked how they can serve the nation after eating burnt paranthas and tasteless dal. He was, however, sacked soon after. He also challenged his dismissal in the court.
Details
My dismissal was completely wrong, says Yadav
"My dismissal was completely wrong. They claimed I am being removed for indiscipline," said Yadav, who was sacked after an inquiry in 2017. "At least the government could have bothered to address the corruption issue I had raised. Its actions to suppress my voice only shows this government is a party to large scale corruption in the forces," the former BSF jawan said.
Quote
Yadav is building a strategy to target maximum voters
Yadav said that he would be going to Varanasi soon to start campaigning for the elections. He would also take the help of ex-servicemen and farmers. "We are building our strategy to target maximum voters," he said.