We have become a country of thieves: Katju

Patna: The country is passing through crisis due to lack of leadership, Press Council of India Chairman Justice Markandey Katju on Friday 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. [caption id=“attachment_496673” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Katju said that India was sitting on the tip of a volcano[/caption] “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 that 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 BC 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 the disgust that people feel 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. PTI