New Delhi, April 30: Former Border Security Force (BSF) constable Tej Bahadur Yadav, who is challenging Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Varanasi, has questioned the ruling regime's claim of strengthening national security. The expelled jawan said the PM should clarify how his Intelligence failed to intercept the Pulwama terror strike.

Tej Bahadur has questioned the Prime Minister on why he failed to order an inquiry into the February 14 attack in Jammu &  Kashmir's Pulwama, which claimed the lives of 40 CRPF personnel. Samajwadi Party Changes Varanasi Candidate, Fields Ex-BSF Constable Against PM Modi

Asserting that the BJP government has failed to improve the state of national security, the ex-BSF jawan said Modi's claim falls flat due to the attack in Pulwama. "How did the attack happen? And why no inquiry has been ordered so far," asked Tej Bahadur while speaking to BBC Hindi.

Tej Bahadur was announced as the SP-BSP joint candidate from Varanasi on Monday, a week after the alliance had fielded Shalini Yadav from the constituency. The former jawan will be contesting on the Samajwadi Party ticket.

Asked if Shalini will be supporting his campaign, Tej Bahadur said she has welcomed her entry into the Varanasi poll fray, and will strive towards winning over the female electorate.

Tej Bahadur claimed that he was asked by the Samajwadi Party to reach Lucknow on Saturday, two days before he was issued the ticket. SP president Akhilesh Yadav held a meeting with him, and agreed to all the issued raised by the former jawan.

"I had written a letter to all political parties asking whether they would like to field me," said Tej Bahadur, who had announced his candidature as an independent earlier this month. He was approached by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) first, followed by the Samajwadi Party.

Tej Bahadur shot to prominence in 2017, after he aired a live video on social media showing the alleged substandard food being served to the troops. He was later expelled after being charge of "indiscipline".

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 30, 2019 09:18 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).