Dismissed BSF Constable Tej Bahadur Yadav to launch movement with ex-servicemen to narrate 'injustices'

MUMBAI: BSF constable Tej Bahadur Yadav, who was dismissed from his services on April 19 for criticising the quality of food served at the staff canteen through a video that went viral, isn’t giving up his fight yet.

The dismissed constable, whose pension and other emoluments too have been stopped, told ET that he will launch a bigger movement at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on May 14. “There will be ex-servicemen from the Army, CRPF, ITBP, Navy and Air Force who will narrate the injustices they faced,” said Yadav.

The constable was in Mumbai to attend a Mumbai Congress programme to commemorate 25 CRPF jawans who were recently killed in Chattisgarh’s Sukma district. He, however, made it clear that he has nothing to do with the Congress.

“I have come here to pay my respects to the martyrs. I don’t support any political party. Even if the BJP, or any other party, had called me for such a programme, I would have come,” claimed Yadav.

The constable alleged that there was an attempt to vilify him after he complained about corruption in the forces which led to poor quality food being served to the jawans.

“My phone was confiscated after the video went viral and has still not been returned. I later heard stories that I had contacted the Pakistanis through my account -- why would I do that? Even when I had recorded the video, I made sure that my location or any other operational details were not disclosed,” said Yadav. He blamed a well-entrenched official hierarchy for ‘punishing him’ to protect their own interests.

“But I get calls from the jawans who said that the food quality has improved 70% since I complained,” said the former BSF constable.