GUWAHATI: Union Minister of State for Home, Kiren Rijiju, on Wednesday said the Centre had sent teams of dieticians to border posts to ascertain the quality of food served to the personnel of security forces.
“Teams of expert dieticians have been sent to all posts of security forces to ascertain the quality of food served to jawans. That is the top priority of Government of India,” Rijiju told the media in Guwahati on the sidelines of an Assam government function, organised to popularise digital transactions.
His comments were in reference to a video where a BSF jawan, posted to India-Pakistan border in Jammu and Kashmir, was heard complaining about the poor quality of food served to the personnel.
Rijiju said the Centre had already instituted a brigadier level probe into the incident.
“The video (which went viral on social media) is yet to be verified. So, I appeal to the media not to make an issue out of a video which is yet to be verified. The jawans are our top priority and we have taken the matter very seriously,” he said.
On the ongoing blockade in Manipur, he urged the Congress government in Manipur to take action.
“The Centre is ready to give all necessary help but maintenance of law and order is a Constitutional obligation of Manipur government. So, the Manipur government has to take action…Let’s not try to take political advantage out of a humanitarian crisis,” Rijiju said.
He appealed to the United Naga Council (UNC), which enforced the blockade on two national highways since November 1, to sit for talks with the government so that “issues and problems” could be resolved.
“The talks are important because Manipur is going to elections,” the minister added.
The two-phase polls in the State will be held on March 4 and 8.