BSF jawan's video used by ISI to spread wrong message: DG

[hussain0216]

• BSF jawan's video used by ISI to spread wrong message: DG
  
  
  

File photo of BSF jawan Tej Bahadur Yadav
HIGHLIGHTS

• ISI used a jawan's allegation of poor meals being served to troops to demoralise them, the DG said
• The idea was to demoralise the personnel of the BSF and other Indian security forces
• The BSF is tasked with guarding the India-Pakistan border

NEW DELHI: Food prepared in BSF kitchens has always been good and one can check the quality by visiting any of its posts unannounced, says the paramilitary force's chief K K Sharmawho blames the ISI for using a jawan's allegation of poor meals being served to troops to demoralise them.

"I joined the BSF in 2012 (as an additional DG). No one (jawans or officers) ever complained about food... There may be issues about transfer or posting. So, I was rudely shocked when this person (Tej Bahadur Yadav) uploaded a video (alleging bad food).

"We already have very healthy systems in the force. We do constant checking of the food that is prepared in our kitchens. Food is not a problem at all," the DG said in an interview to PTI.

He then threw up an open challenge: "Anyone can go any day and anytime to any border outpost of the BSF and ask for food."

"I guarantee that you will find good food. We have food that is homely. Food is plentiful in the BSF," the chief of the 2.65-lakh personnel strong force said.

He said he had made the same suggestion to parliamentarians when they grilled him on the issue early this year.

Yadav, in uniform and carrying his service rifle, had in January posted a video on Facebook, picked by other social media platforms, claiming poor quality food like watery 'dal' and burnt 'chapatis' were being served to the troops in inhospitable terrains along the border.

The DG said videos of Yadav, who has been sacked from service recently after an inquiry found his allegations to be wrong, and were "used" by the ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) of Pakistan.

"You may or may not be knowing that his (Yadav's) video was picked by our neighbour from 22 places and made to go viral (over the social media)," he said.

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The idea was, he said, to demoralise the personnel of the BSF and other Indian security forces.

The BSF is tasked with guarding the India-Pakistan border.

Sharma, a 1982-batch Rajasthan cadre IPS officer, added that the force also learnt its lessons saying he was "thankful" that this incident (Yadav's video) happened as it helped it to formulate a proper and better plan to tackle the challenges emerging from social media and to understand how the misuse of this online platform can harm an organisation.

"Now, we know and we are better prepared when something appears in the social media and we have systems that can immediately present the correct picture with facts," he said.

When asked if the BSF, after this incident, has banned or curtailed the usage of mobile phones and social media by jawans during duty hours, the DG replied in the negative.

"In fact, this is a good thing. We told our jawans that they should not simply believe in anything that comes to them via social media channels. This (Internet powered smartphones) helps to keep in touch with friends and family. These are things which I don't want to stop because this is technology and this should be used.

"So, we have not at all curbed it. But, we have told them (jawans) that be very careful because someone may try to use you them for their ends. We have told them that if something is wrong then don't just forward it but handle it responsibly and inform your superiors," he said.

The BSF boss added that after the 'bad food' video was uploaded by constable Yadav, the force also had a re-look at the system of rations, cooking and allied management and subjects related to it has been made streamlined further.

He said there is a team of vigilance officers who keep a check on the quality of food and rations being provided to the personnel of the force, raised in 1965.

Constable Yadav had also alleged that while government procures essentials for the soldiers, the higher-ups "sell them off" in an "illegal" manner in the market making the lower level personnel in the force suffer

 

[hussain0216]

So basically the message to india soldiers is 'shut up and eat the low grade veggie grewl because the ISI might use your whinging and crying as propaganda'

 

[duhastmish]

bull fff shyt. we know the quality of sarkari kitchen.
its not as if they are importing cook n equipemnts. its not acceptable to ignore these things. why shut his mouth get the fact out. have a open debate so we people know whom are we feeding what.

 

[Morpheus]

Whats next, if you wife is shacking up with high ranking officers, it ISI fault.

 

[graphican]

India is setting bad example for its own forces.. .anybody complains goes to hell. So zip it, leave the army or do murders of your higher ups using your bullets and guns, but do not dare complaining - because ISI will viral that.

Shame* - India is shining everyday.

 

[ashok321]

Low income country as India does not have enough funds.
Look how they tried to save some money from cutting on India's helicopter numbers from 11 to six:

If they can do this on India's security, why can not the soldiers be included in this cost cutting exercise?

But on the other hand, I think its pertinent to show my Pakistani brothers, that how the Indian PM eats his finger licking food, while those on border eat daily daal with black roti.

If thats not enough, he feeds biscuits to his dog:

And this is while thousands of Indian farmers are committing suicide in India.
farmers suicide in India: Over 12,000 farmer suicides per year, Centre .

Modi's one lunch is equal to 120 Indians in cost:

Shriraj Kesariya on Twitter: "Modi eats Rs 30,000/kg Mushroom and ..