CM Kumar also expressed his concern that people are spending more time on their phones and are not paying attention to important discussions.
Known for losing his temper frequently, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday pulled up government officials for excessive use of mobile phones – particularly during official meetings.
Speaking at the launch of a programme of the Water Resources Department, chief minister Kumar noticed officials looking down at their mobile phones. An angry Kumar took objections to their conduct and went on to deliver a brief lecture on the importance of attentive listening during meetings.
“I see officers staring at their mobile phones during meetings. They listen to me when I speak but they keep looking at their phones under the table. So everyone has become preoccupied with their phones. It’s not good,” he said.
CM Kumar also expressed his concern that people are spending more time on their phones and are not paying attention to important discussions.
The chief minister then instructed officials to ensure that water supply does not deteriorate and urged them to start working immediately.
This is not the first time that Nitish Kumar has expressed his displeasure over officials’ behavior. Earlier this year, he publicly reprimanded inspector general (home guards and fire services) Vikas Vaibhav for criticizing his senior officer on Twitter. He took strong exception to Vaibhav’s move to turn to Twitter to express his grievances, calling it a “dirty act.”
In another incident, Nitish Kumar reprimanded an officer for speaking in English at a farmers’ conclave. He advised the officer sternly, “Common people are engaged in farming and so you should speak in Hindi.” He believes that the state’s main language should be used to communicate with its people.
In August last year, Nitish Kumar reprimanded officials for the absence of the Madarsa Board at his Janata Darbar after a youth complained about pending approval for his selection on the board. The Chief Minister questioned the officials’ negligence and emphasized the need for prompt action on pending matters.
Famous as “Sushashan Babu” among his admirers, CM Kumar is known for his strong leadership and strict adherence to rules and regulations.