JOIN USPunjab minister ridicules state babus for poor standard of Queens's English
Besides the poor fiscal health of Punjab, Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal is just not pleased with the level of English writing skills of the state's IAS officers.
In fact, the well-read minister did not mince words publicly to criticise the bureaucrats on their 'proficiency' in the Queen's language. At a function in Chandigarh on Sunday, Manpreet Badal said, "Barring one or two, none of the IAS officers know how to write English." Badal went ahead to say they even don't know how to write official letters. The minister said he often has felt ashamed reading official letters written by state bureaucrats.
Punjabi is the official language in this border state. The minister in Capt Amarinder Singh-led Congress government is the estranged nephew of former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal.
He said he was glad that much of the correspondence in the departments take place in Punjabi. But, he said, correspondence with the union government was in English, which is where IAS officers are desired to pen the content in English. "I am surprised how they have managed to clear the civil services examination," Manpreet said from the dais.
The minister's comments haven't gone down well the state bureaucracy. Overtly though, there has been no formal or informal expression of disappointment manifested over Badal's comment, from the state bureaucrats, at least for now.
No-tea in office
Manpreet Singh Badal is well regarded for his honest functioning in the government. His comments even in the past have attracted attention. His 'no-tea in office' notice outside his office was much talked about. Some time back, he displayed a notice outside his office at the Punjab civil secretariat where the minister directly wrote; "Dear I'm really sorry for not offering tea to you in my office. But every action of governance is full of 'Tea' - transparency, efficiency, and accountability. You are an indispensable part of making Tea in this office..."