After BSF jawan, CRPF man releases video alleging discrimination in forces

Agra: Following Border Security Force (BSF) constable Tej Bahadur Yadav’s allegations about bad quality food being served to troops, a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) constable posted at Mount Abu has released another video claiming disparity among security forces in their service conditions.

In the video, the constable Jeet Singh from Sahjua Thok village in Mathura district, asks Prime Minister Narendra Modi to resolve the matter at the earliest.

Singh laments that that though CRPF personnel are asked to attend to various tasks like protecting VIPs and guarding religious events, they are not provided facilities on par with the army.

“Those with the armed forces avail of medical and canteen facilities, besides other welfare schemes, but nothing of the sort is provided to CRPF personnel. After retirement, we are not given ex-servicemen quota benefits that could help us bag good jobs. Even teachers at government schools draw better salaries and get enough holidays,” he says.

Singh then exhorts the public to make his video viral. Officials at the Home Ministry said they were trying to verify the authenticity of the clip.

"This is an old video. The jawan has service-related grievances and is seeking parity in pay and other benefits. An Inspector General rank officer of the force has already got in touch with him. We have made it clear that if there are any problems to the troops, we will address them immediately," CRPF Director General Durga Prasad said.

He said he jawan had raised the issues when the OROP protests were taking place last year and the CRPF has brought all these issues to the knowledge of the "7th Pay Commission".

"You always want a better life than what you have…that is what he is asking. He has no complaints from the force," Prasad said.

The video, officials said, was shot when the jawan was deployed at the force's Academy in Mount Abu in Rajasthan few months ago and the trooper can be seen wearing a CRPF camouflage t-shirt in it.

"The constable has not complained about any organisation and has only voiced his aspiration. CRPF is highly sensitive to the welfare of its jawans. Regular efforts are made for redressal of their grievances at several levels," the force said in a statement.

"In the event of any achievement/major incident in the field, the DG and senior officers promptly visit them to raise their morale," it added.

On Monday, BSF constable Tej Bahadur Yadav had claimed that not only were the jawans provided poor quality food, but sometimes they had to go hungry as well. In three videos, he had appealed to Modi to address the situation.

Another video showed Lance Naik Y P Singh alleging "abuse" by his senior officers who often threatened him that he would lose his job if he did not follow their orders which included polishing their shoes.

After the videos went viral, the BSF shifted Yadav to the 29th Battalion and also revealed that he had issues with alcoholism, absenteeism and aggression towards superiors. However, the government instituted a probe into the matter.