Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Saturday stirred controversy after advising people to beat up all the incompetent officials in his constituency with bamboo sticks if they do not come through in their work.

Addressing a gathering in his Begusarai Lok Sabha constituency in Bihar, Singh remarked about how he often receives complaints from people about how officials often turn a deaf ear to their problems.

© BCCL

"I say to them, why do you come to me for such small things. MPs, MLAs, village mukhiyas, DMs, SDMs, BDOs... these are all under obligation to serve the people. If they do not listen to you, pick up a bamboo stick with both hands and give a crushing blow on their head," Singh said.

"If even that does not work, then Giriraj will throw his weight behind you," the Union Minister, who holds fisheries, animal husbandry and dairy farming portfolios further said.

#WATCH | If someone (any government official) doesn't listen to your grievances, hit them with a bamboo stick. Neither we ask them to do any illegitimate job, nor will we tolerate illegitimate 'nanga nritya' by any official: Union Minister Giriraj Singh in Begusarai, Bihar pic.twitter.com/Wxc6TlHiYC

— ANI (@ANI) March 6, 2021

Reacting to the rather violent statement by Singh, a BJP leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the comment should not be taken literally.

"Giriaj Singh is a mass leader who has to be responsive towards public anger. We should take his statement figuratively, not literally," the Bihar BJP leader was quoted as saying by Timesnownews.

Soon enough, Twitter was flooded with comments by people on the development:

The logic of hitting non-listening government official with bamboo stick should also be applicable to non-listening or non-performing Union Ministers.

— Raju (@nbrengaraju) March 6, 2021

Bamboo will soon be in demand. Will get one tomorrow.

— Aurangzeb Naqshbandi (@naqshzeb) March 6, 2021

after listening giriraj bhakt to gov. officALs pic.twitter.com/osR1590zo9

— divyansh kumar (@PoudelKshitij) March 6, 2021

Dear Begusarai Voters If Your MP Giriraaj Singh Dosen't Fulfill his Promise Pls Do the Samething 🏼🏼

— Being Human (@ashutoswrites) March 6, 2021

Is this the minister of a democratic country like India should speak , putting government servants at the mercy of people , the reason why we have fallen in freedom index. Slowly the country is being pushed under the autocratic rule of some powerful people.

— Swati Singh (@SwatiSi05489931) March 6, 2021

Well, it looks like someone needs to tell our Union Minister to calm down and try and not suggest violence to the common people. 

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