New Delhi, August 21: The Centre on Monday tried to justify Constable Bahadur Yadav’s sacking from the Border Security Force (BSF) in 2017, due to the video he posted on the quality of food being served to security personnel. The government told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the video posted by Yadav might have “led to mutiny among the armed forces”, Indian Express reported. Also Read - Provide Gadgets, Internet Package to EWS Students For Online Learning: Delhi HC to Private, Govt Schools

The BSF and the Centre said in a reply that Yadav wanted to ruin the reputation of the force and that is why, he made up the story. They called Yadav’s complaint an ill-conceived idea. The government further said in the written reply that the punishment meted out to him was a minor one, in comparison to what he did. The reply also mentioned the reason behind why the daal looked bland and watery in the video was because the BSF avoided extra spicy and oily dal due to the rising cases of cardiac problems among troops, the report added. Also Read - SSR Case: Rakul Preet Singh Moves Delhi High Court Against Defaming Her as Part of Media Trial

Tej Bahadur Yadav was dismissed by the BSF reportedly on the basis of a staff court of inquiry (SCoI) and as per the inquiry, Yadav, who was a constable-ranked jawan was found guilty of making false charges. Apart from that according to a senior official, he was also found guilty on certain charges of indiscipline including uploading of the video in violation of laid down procedures and rules. Also Read - Article 377 Scrapped But Same Sex Marriage Still Against Our Laws, Values: Centre to Delhi HC

Following the video that went viral in 2017, the Prime Minister’s Office asked for a detailed factual report regarding the claims from the Union Home Ministry and the BSF. Even a PIL was filed in the Delhi High Court which sought to direct the government to depute higher officials to supervise the food and its distribution. It also issued a notice to various paramilitary forces, including the BSF and sought their opinion on the allegations of serving substandard food to the soldiers.

Yadav in his initial video claimed that the food served to them were of substandard quality and requested the Prime Minister to listen to his woes. He levelled charges of corruption within the force and said that the money which was sent for food could have been misappropriated.