The BSF Jawan, Tej Bahadur Yadav, the daring whistle-blower (one in 13 lakh) disclosing the Army’s alleged corrupt practice, has made a complaint regarding supply of a poor quality of food to the soldiers on duty at LoC, adducing the proof of video that has become viral on social media. This has also been amply supported by his members of the family which shocked the public at large doubting the existence of corrupt practice in the Army and that too it is related to the poor quality of food being served to the jawans. However, the authorities have hushed up the matter saying that the Jawan is suffering from mental illness (derailed mental condition) and has a record of misbehaviour with his seniors in the past.
In the mean time they have posted him elsewhere. Incidentally a report says that the civilians residing nearby Humhuma, the BSF Headquarters at Srinagar airport, said that some of the BSF officials are selling food grains, pulses, vegetables, petrol, etc. which are meant for the jawans. These are being sold to the shopkeepers in the area at the reduced rate for pecuniary gains. It is said here in the relevance above that, “The Army Marches on its Stomach “, the saying which is attributed to the French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte (15/8/1769 – 05/5/1821) that attests to the importance of forces being well provisioned. An Army needs a regular supply of good quality of food that will keep the fighting spirit of jawans any time and all the time.
In the history of wars, we have learnt/seen that in the world many battles had been lost due to want of food to the fighting forces/soldiers. The latest incident invokes a wake-up call to the Indian armed forces to rectify the wrong doings. Furthermore, taking into consideration the report from a BSF Jawan, a thorough enquiry is needed to be conducted by the Army Headquarters at South Block, New Delhi-110011, to pin-point as to who is responsible for this happening and culprits be punished as per army’s procedure in the deterrence.
