Narendra Modi's development claim 'phoney', Gujarat malnutrition rate worse than Somalia: Markandey Katju

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PTI: Bhopal, Dec 23 2012, 19:09 IST

Press Council of India Chairman Markendya Katju today hit out at Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi describing as "phoney" his claims of development in the state and saying its malnutrition rate was worse than Somalia.

Katju said Modi had made tall claims about development in Gujarat but pointed out that the living standards of the common people was still 'abysmal'.

Citing figures, he told reporters that Gujarat's malnutrition rate was higher than that of poor countries like Somalia in Africa.

Katju said the development claim in Gujarat was "phoney", since it had not helped the common man in any way.

The time may come when the people of the state would themselves realise that the development about which Modi boasts a lot was of no use to them, he said.

He also touched upon the the 2002 post-Godhra riots.

"There is no way in which the blot on Modi's name due to the 2002 Gujarat communal riots can be wiped out," Katju said.

Asked what he thought of Modi's third successive win in assembly elections, he said that everyone knows how polls are fought and won these days in the country.

He said that in sharp contrast, there was no blot on another BJP-ruled state Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's name.

Katju said that he met Chouhan two days ago and invited him to attend an 'mushaira' (Urdu poetry meet) and the chief minister promised that he would come for only 15 minutes.

Katju said that when Chouhan came, he extended his stay to 50 minutes and appreciated

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Reader's Comments (12)| Post a Comment

Gujaraties please spare Modi to the Rest of India .

Devi | 25-Dec-2012Reply | Forward

Prejudice is like a hair across your cheek. You can't see it, you can't find it with your fingers, but you keep brushing at it because the feel of it is irritating.. Many of our Media earn an %u2018extra %u201Clivelihood, on %u201CModi bashing%u201D. Such people have been using their pen and mouth only to find fault with Modi. Unlucky to them and lucky to India ,the more they do that the more and more people start disbelieving them.! These Anti-Modi-Brigades are pricked by Modi's hat-trick that too against such massive awesome Anti Modi Propaganda . After decades of bashing by them, they are not digesting the blessing of Aam Aadmi given to Modi . Those vast majorities who want him know that Modi is man who delivers and not by magic but thru practical solutions to many problems that India has been facing . Most of them know that he will act above cast, creed or religion and only true Indians will be benefited under Modi. Gujaraties please spare Modi to the Rest of India .

Gujarathie pease spare Modi to the rest of India .

Devi | 25-Dec-2012Reply | Forward

Katju - needs some basic lessons

PL | 24-Dec-2012Reply | Forward

Mr. Katju has been justice of Supreme court and chief of Press Corps. Does he understands that he should not give such kind of statements? If he wants to he should resign from the post and join politics. It is free India and he can say whatever he wants but it shows how stupid he is not understanding the norms of public office.