‘Modi’s development model flawed, Nitish living in illusion’

Press Council of India chairperson Justice (retired) Markandey Katju on Friday attacked Chief Minister Narendra Modi for his "model of development", saying that a state with malnutrition rate worse than the national average "cannot be called developed".

Speaking at a function organised by the Centre for Social Responsibility, supporting Super 30 coaching centres of Bihar DGP Abhayanand, Justice Katju said the Gujarat model of development was flawed.

"How can a state having worse malnutrition rate than the national average claim to be developed. Indian children's health was worse than some African countries," he said.

He also attacked Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar saying he was "shying away from facing his own people", who had shown dissent during his recent Adhikar yatra. "Bihar CM had been living in illusion and not doing any introspection for things gone wrong," he said.

"Law and order might well have improved during the first term of Nitish but it has deteriorated during his present term, inviting ire of people. His recent Adhikar yatra trips were met with violence and black flag protests," Katju said.

His onslaught at the state government made the DGP and several bureaucrats leave the function midway. The organisers later disowned Katju's speech calling it "unwarranted".

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