India has become a country of thieves: Markandey Katju

The country is passing through crisis due to lack of leadership, Press Council of India Chairman Justice Markandey Katju today said while lamenting the "general mood of cynicism" against the political class due to corruption.

"The country is passing through crisis due to lack of leadership... there is absence of good leadership with vision and integrity," he told a function here.

"Lagta hai choron ka mulk hai...charo taraf loot machi hai (It seems we have become a country of thieves and loot is taking place all around)," the PCI chairman said.

The credibility of political leaders has suffered a severe dent, he said, adding scam was following scam and there was a general mood of cynicism against the political class due to prevalence of corruption.

There was a time when the leaders commanded respect of the people for qualities like integrity, commitment and leadership, he said while recalling Mahatma Gandhi, Dr Rajendra Prasad, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Dr B C Roy.

"But today's leaders lack vision and leadership," he said.

Katju said that country was sitting on the tip of a volcano and referred to disgust among the people against "corruption, scams and degeneration of the political system.

"If the political class does not change its ways, then a bad situation will greet them sooner than later," he said.

Katju targets Nitish, 'CM has lost goodwill of people'

Attacking Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Press Council of India Chairman Markandey Katju on Friday claimed that he had lost the goodwill of people as indicated by public protests against him during his recent 'Adhikar yatra' and was "scared" of facing the people.

"The chief minister was shown black flags by the people and massive public protests took place during his 'Adhikar yatra' which proves that he has failed to fulfil promises of development, employment and electricity even seven years after assuming power," Katju told a function here.

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