Farmers Movement Archive

Tech should not be used to trouble someone: Nitish Kumar

PATNA: Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said new technologies create problems sometimes. He was referring to the controversy over Pegasus spyware allegedly used to keep surveillance on several union ministers, opposition leaders, journalists and businessmen. “In my opinion, it is not good to trouble anybody. Such new technologies are beneficial, but people also misuse them. Ye bahut gandi baat hai. Faltu cheez hai ye sab. Technology ka use kar ke kisi ko pareshan nahi karna chahiye. But Aisa hota rehta hai...ye galat hai,” he told the media on the sidelines of his weekly ‘janata ke darbar mein mukhyamantri’ programme. Nitish also said the Centre should initiate a fresh dialogue with the protesting farmers over the new farm bills. “I will urge the Centre to start a fresh dialogue with the farmers to reach an amicable solution,” he said while expressing concern over the congregation of a large number of farmers outside Delhi when the threat of a third wave of Covid-19 was looming large in the country. Nitish said though the farmers' agitation didn't have any impact in Bihar because its case was different from other states. “We have already taken several steps in the farmers’ interest. Their production has enhanced as well as their produce is being procured by the government agencies,” he said. The CM also took a swipe at Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut’s statement that the BJP should withdraw its support from the Nitish Kumar government if the JD(U) leader opposed legislation on the population control. “I don't take notice of such people. Where they stand today is known to all. ‘Usko kuchh samajh mein aata hai kya (Does he understand such things)?,” he sarcastically asked. To drive home his point, the CM referred to the controversy over a CBI probe recommended by the Bihar government into the mysterious death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput in Mumbai last year. “What happened in that case is known to all,” he said. Nitish said he has already made his stand clear on the issue of population control. “I am least bothered about other states’ measures to control the birth rate,” he added. He revealed that the Bihar government decided to open 10+2 schools in every panchayat with an objective to educate girls. Even some middle schools were upgraded to higher secondary level to achieve the objective. “It’s a proven fact that girl's education plays a significant role in birth control,” he asserted. Nitish had earlier said mere framing laws would not help to control the population. The issue has snowballed into a controversy following a draft bill prepared by the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh.

The Times of India

2021-07-20

Patna