Jaipur, Sep. 2 : In a bizarre move, the Rajasthan government has directed all the government employees to properly welcome and see off visiting MPs and MLAs.

Among other things, the directive requires government employees to stand up when a lawmaker comes to visit them.

“Respecting them is essential and usually they come to address the grievances of the common man and not with their own personnel issues. In our culture we usually stand up when someone visits us and welcoming someone by just sitting on our chairs is not a part of our culture,” said Ashok Bairwa, spokesman, Rajasthan government.

On their part, the government employees have reacted with mixed notions.

They have contended that there was no need for such an order as they were already respecting public leaders, in and out of office.

“There might be an instance because of which the government had to issue this order. We are not aware of any such instance. I personally feel that employees and officers of the district administration have never shown dissent or disrespect to them nor such a feeling like this has ever come into their minds," said Gowri Shankar Soni, a government employee.

Many Congress party MPs and MLAs have often complained about indifference of bureaucrats and other staff members towards them. (ANI)