Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday said that the Government of India has decided to send a team of expert dietitians to all the border posts to ascertain the quality of food served to the Army of paramilitary force jawans guarding the borders.
The Minister said this in Guwahati on Wednesday while reacting to queries on a video that went viral in the social media reportedly uploaded by a BSF jawan, who had alleged that jawans posted in border areas are served poor quality of foods.
“We have taken the matter very seriously. The Government had already entrusted a Brigadier and an Inspector General (IG) level officer to probe into the allegations. We have also got the initial report. I cannot share it until we get the final report,” he said while replying to media queries. The Union Minister said that the jawans of security forces, particularly those serving in forward border areas are the top priority of the Government.
“However, I would also like to appeal to the media not to make an issue out of the video, which is yet to be verified. The video is yet to be verified and its authenticity is yet to be ascertained. We have also sent a team of expert dietitians to all the border posts to ascertain the quality of foods served to the jawans,” he added.
Manipur situation
The Union Minister also expressed concern over the ongoing blockade of highways in Manipur and said that it is the constitutional obligation of the State Government to maintain law and order. “I have visited Manipur two weeks back and held a positive meeting with CM Okram Ibobi Singh over the issue. However, it is unfortunate that the blockade is still on in Manipur, which is making the people suffer,” he said. “We (the Centre) are ready to help but maintenance of law and order is constitutional obligation of the State Government. I feel that the State, Centre and the United Naga Council (UNC) should move together to resolve the issues,” he said.
“I appeal the UNC to lift the blockade for the sake of holding free and fair polls in Manipur. At the same time I also appeal the State Government not to take any step that will aggravate the situation. let us not try to take political mileage out of a humanitarian crisis,” he said adding that it is the primary duty of the Manipur Government to act and hammer out a solution by sitting with UNC.