BSF Jawan Food Video: PM's Office Seeks Information, Say Sources

New Delhi: A huge controversy over a Border Security Force (BSF) soldier's Facebook videos alleging bad food for the troops has seized the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office, which has reportedly asked the Home Ministry for information.

Border Security Force constable Tej Bahadur Yadav's four videos of what he alleges is watery, unseasoned dal and burnt paranthas have been seen more than 3 million times on social media.

Sources say the PM's office has sought information on the soldier's complaint from the Home Ministry, which is investigating the videos.

The soldier's family has alleged that he is being targeted for exposing reality. A day after the videos went viral, the soldier was moved from the Line of Control in Poonch to a Batallion in Rajouri.

"I want to say whatever my husband has done is right. He has spoken up for the soldiers. Asking for decent food is not a crime. He has shown the reality," said Sharmilla, his wife.

The BSF has alleged that the soldier has a "dodgy record" that also features drinking and insubordination, but that he was not court-martialed on compassionate grounds.

In the videos, the constable talks about standing for hours in icy conditions but being served poor quality food. Often, he claims, soldiers have to go to bed hungry.

"This is breakfast - one burnt parantha and a glass of tea... no butter, no jam, no pickle..." he says in one video, and in another, he comments, looking straight into the camera: "Can a jawan do his duty with this kind of food? Share this video as much as possible and take our message to the government. Jai Hind!"

Sources say the Home Ministry has received a fresh complaint, apparently by a jawan, pointing to long working hours and inadequate food.