India, May 16 -- Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Saturday maintained that his remarks a day earlier, referring to some people as "cockroaches" and "parasites", were not directed at the youth of the country but at individuals who entered professions such as law and media using "fake and bogus degrees".

"I am pained to read how a section of the media has misquoted my oral observations made during the hearing of a frivolous case yesterday," the CJI said in a statement issued on Saturday, stressing that he held "immense respect" for the youth of India.

"What I had specifically criticised were those who have entered professions like the Bar (legal profession) with the aid of fake and bogus degrees. Similar persons have sneaked int...