Arun Jaitley twisting facts, must resign from politics: Justice Markandey Katju

New Delhi: Responding to the scathing attack on him by BJP leader Arun Jaitley, Press Council of India Chairman Justice Markandey Katju on Sunday said that Jaitley must consider retiring from politics as he was given to "twisting facts" and "talking rubbish". Jaitley, in response to an article written by Katju on Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, had said that Katju had "failed every test on which a judge - whether sitting or retired - could be judged". Jaitley had said that the choice of Katju's subjects and targets was motivated by his political preferences.

Reacting, Katju said, "Arun Jaitley is talking rubbish and I will not stoop down to his low level. He must resign from politics. He is twisting facts. I have criticised Congress-ruled states as well. I sent notices to the Maharashtra government when two girls were arrested for their post on Facebook."

BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad had earlier said, "We respect the Chairman of the Press Council of India and the former Supreme Court judge but the article written by Katju is not in good taste. He criticises the anti-Congress leadership of Bihar, West Bengal and has targeted Narendra Modi which is very unfortunate. Has Katju ever written an article about the scams under the leadership of the Congress?"

Criticising Katju's article, Jaitley had said that it read more like a personal tirade and that his attacks on non-Congress governments seemed more in the nature of thanks-giving to those who provided him with a post retirement job. Jaitley said, "Should not a former judge who currently occupies a quasi judicial office as Chairman of the Press Council of India, either quit before actively participating in politics or be sacked? Retired judges must remember that the rental for occupying a Lutyen's bungalow post retirement has to be political neutrality, not political participation."