Wrote on Modi as a citizen of India, Jaitley twists facts: Katju

New Delhi: Press Council of India chairman Justice Markandey Katju on Monday defended his recent attack on Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, saying he wrote the article on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader as a citizen of India.

Speaking to IBN18 Editor-in-Chief Rajdeep Sardesai, Katju said, "I am not only the chairman of press council, but also a citizen of India...My article on Narendra Modi was on the basis of being a citizen of India, not as a chairman of Press Council of India."

The former Supreme Court judge further said he found it to be his duty to tell people about the reality of Modi's leadership in Gujarat, terming his development plank as "false propaganda".

Press Council of India chairman Justice Markandey Katju said Arun Jaitley was not cut out for politics and had failed every test of a responsible politician.

"I wrote an article on Narendra Modi as there is a campaign in favour of him...it is my duty to tell people of India that real test of development is whether standard of living is going up or not," said the PCI chief.

When asked if he, being a retired Supreme Court judge, should speak on issues that are political in nature, Katju said, "There is a great deal of difference between a Supreme Court judge and press council chief...I have the right to speak on something of extreme importance."

Katju further dismissed that he just attacked the BJP, saying he had often criticised the Congress governments as well.

Accusing senior BJP leader Arun Jailey on twisting facts, Katju said "Arun Jaitley has the habit of twisting facts, he should leave politics, he is not cut out for politics, has failed every test of a responsible politician."

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