"I will contest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Varanasi constituency as an independent candidate," Tej Bahadur Yadav told reporters in Rewari, Haryana.
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.
In January 2017, Havildar Tej Bahadur Yadav of the BSF had posted a video on social media claiming the jawans were served very poor food because their seniors embezzled their rations. An inquiry found Yadav guilty of indiscipline and he was sacked. Yadav had showed a meal box containing a watery dal, which he claimed had only turmeric and salt, and a burnt chapatti.
Claiming he was "mentally tortured", Yadav had expressed apprehension that his seniors may take action against him for speaking the unvarnished truth of soldiers posted on the border.
The videos triggered a massive outrage across the nation, but the BSF dismissed his allegations.
The Summary Security Force Court (SSFC) conducted the proceedings against Yadav following charges under the provision of the BSF Act and Rules:
- An act prejudicial to good order and discipline of the force in which he made false allegations on social media regarding the quality of food and did not adhere to formal grievance redressal mechanism of the force.
- Neglect to obey general orders of the force in which he carried two mobile phones while on operational duty against the SOP and also posted photographs in uniform on social media in contravention of instructions.
(agency inputs)