[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Protest against poor working conditions
The condition of Richa Singh, wife of Lance Naik Yagna Pratap Singh, whose video went viral raising poor service conditions, has been deteriorating. Her family members were forced on Monday to transfer Richa to a local hospital in Rewa, some 490 km from Bhopal.
APN’s Ashok Singh reports from Rewa that, on the fourth day of her hunger strike, Richa was admitted to Sanjay Gandhi Hospital. Her husband is also on hunger strike for the fourth day in Fatehgarh near Farrukhabad in UP. He had highlighted poor service conditions and alleged that senior officers made jawans do menial jobs like polishing shoes, washing cars and walking pet dogs.
Richa said, “I am on a hunger strike to support my husband—Lance Naik Yagna Pratap Singh. My husband is also on a hunger strike for the past four days at Fatehgarh (UP).”
She further said that her husband is with 14 Rajputana Rifles and currently posted in Fatehgarh. “My husband is under house arrest at Fatehgarh after the video raising the issue of discrimination surfaced,” she said.
The couple’s hunger strike continues despite Army chief Bipin Rawat expressing displeasure at army jawans airing their grievances on social media.
“My husband joined the army for serving the nation and not for doing household chores in officers’ homes,” Richa said. She saidthat the condition of her husband had been deteriorating “but no medical help has been provided.”
Yagna Pratap Singh uploaded his video while posted at 42nd Brigade in Dehradun, saying that he had, in June 2016, written letters to the President, Prime Minister, Defence Minister and Home Minister about the discrimination. He stated that he did nothing wrong by airing his grievances.
Richa demanded her husband be exempted from performing the duties of sahayak (buddy). “Armymen of Sepoy, Havildar and Lance Naik ranks do sahayaki (auxiliary services),” she said.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]