Incorrectly addressed: Nitish

Patna, Aug. 24: Bihar animal and fish resources minister Giriraj Singh had a tough time at his janata darbar today. Not because there was a flurry of complaints before him but because several were not addressed to him.

Instead of being addressed to Giriraj, complainants came with applications addressed to the chief minister, his deputy and the chief secretary, leaving the minister fuming.

As Ram Tapeshwar Mishra, 60, from Katihar district handed Giriraj an application about his son failing to get a peon’s job in a government school, Giriraj had a smile on his face. But he was soon rendered speechless — Mishra had addressed deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi, instead of Giriraj Singh.

Losing his temper, Giriraj said: “Where is my name on the application? You are addressing Modiji who is the deputy chief minister of this state, but you have come to the janata darbar of Giriraj Singh. What do you want me to do with this application? Shall I pass this on to the deputy CM? This is not the way to give an application. At least you should know whom you are going to meet. I am not going to accept this, you must address my name on the application then only will I accept it.

“How can you just address me as deputy chief minister, is it your ignorance or have you intentionally done it?”

Quiet while the minister berated him, Mishra said: “Sir, my only concern is that my son should get the job. I don’t find any difference between you and the deputy chief minister.” Giriraj just replied: “I don’t have anything to say. Just go now.”

That was not all for Giriraj.

Soon, another complainant — a retired veterinary doctor from Patna who has not been receiving his pension for some time — came up to Giriraj. His application was addressed to the chief minister.

A livid Giriraj said: “What kind of a person are you? I don’t expect such a thing from a person like you, I doubt that you are a doctor. Before you, a villager had come up to me with an application that was not addressed to me. I can understand that he is not educated enough but you should know whom you are addressing in your complaint. Do I look like the chief minister? When you have come to my janata darbar, my name, and not the chief minister, should be mentioned on the application.”

He added: “If you want to share your problem with the chief minister, you should go to his janata darbar. I am not the right person to approach. This has really disappointed me and I am thinking to stop your pension forever. I will not accept your complaint unless you come with a proper application with my name on the top.”

When yet another complainant approached Giriraj with an application addressed to Anup Mukerji, the chief secretary, the minister just refused to pay any attention.

Later, he told The Telegraph: “I think there is need to make the people aware about the format of janata darbar. They should come here with the right application and right approach.”