But an intervention by Modi who expressed his displeasure today and wanted the punishment to be withdrawn immediately led the force to rescind its order deducting a weeks salary from the jawan.
The prime minister directed the Border Security Force(BSF) today to immediately withdraw the order, said a spokesperson of the paramilitary, adding that it had been rescinded.
Constable Sanjeev Kumar, posted in the 15th battalion of the BSF deployed in West Bengal's Nadia district, was found "guilty" by his commanding officer (CO) for using the words "Modi programme" while attending a morning roll call task on February 21.
"The prime minister has expressed his displeasure and directed the force to immediately withdraw the punishment. The order has been rescinded and the concerned Commandant has been cautioned for not dealing with the matter judiciously," the BSF spokesperson said.
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Officials said the jawan referred to an event that he attended as "Modi programme" during the 'zero parade' or reporting assembly of briefing seniors about their official activities. They said the CO found this kind of reference to the prime minister by the jawan as improper and ordered an inquiry against him.
"Senior officers of the force have been instructed time and again to display qualities of a good leader, both in letter and spirit, for the personnel under their command.
"These men and women work in some of the most arduous conditions across the country. Their commanders should ensure discipline in the force but the punishment has to be commensurate to the offence," a senior officer of the force said, underling that handing down a pay cut to the jawan was not a judicious decision.