Modi explains why he banned mobiles during meetings?

There is a reason why Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who uses technology in innovative ways, ban mobile phones in his meetings.

During his meetings with officers, he always see them "so busy, so busy" tapping on mobile phones to check social media.

"These days I see officials so busy, so busy, so busy using their mobile phones. I have now banned mobile phones during my meetings," Modi said bureaucrats at the Civil Services Day function here.

Though he has banned its use in meetings, he is not against the use of mobile phones in governance and told civil servants that e-governance, m-governance and social media are good means to reach out to the people and for their benefits.

He was also critical of using social media by officers for self-promotion. He said it would be beneficial if some officers use social media for spreading word about polio vaccination date and so on.

But, he said, it puts a wrong message if he is posting his own photo from the programme for self-promotion.

Modi also had a tongue-in-cheek comment on coaching classes, saying he did not become a bureacrat as he was not able to attend coaching.

He said he is working for 16 years with bureaucracy. "So I am a Director-level officer now. I did not go to coaching classes, So cannot be a bureaucrat."

On people's reactions, he said people clap when army saves lives during flood in Kashmir and the same people may "later pelt stones at them but for a moment this deed touch them".