Chandigarh: The BSF constable who was dismissed in 2017 after he posted a video online complaining about the food served to the troops has said he would take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Varanasi constituency.

“I will contest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Varanasi constituency as an independent candidate,” Tej Bahadur Yadav told reporters in Rewari, Haryana on Friday.

Also read: BSF Jawan Who Complained About Food Quality Dismissed From Service

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.

Yadav, who was from the BSF’s 29th battalion based in J&K, had uploaded a video on social media in 2017, complaining that poor quality food was being served to the troops in icy, mountainous region along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.

“I was not given a fair trial. Though I was given an opportunity to present witness but my mobile phone was seized. I wanted to call colleagues as witnesses, but wasn’t allowed to do so,” Yadav said after he was dismissed by a Summary Security Force Court (SSFC) where he was tried on two counts – of making “false allegations” on social media regarding the quality of food and carrying two mobile phones while on operational duty.

(With inputs from PTI)