Former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer John Kiriakou has said he “really” dislikes India, describing it as the filthiest country he has visited and criticising its caste system during a recent appearance on a podcast.
Speaking about his experience in India, Kiriakou said he spent only a few months in the country but “hated it”. He claimed that public sanitation practices were among the reasons for his negative impression, alleging that he saw people defecating in public.
“I really don’t like India at all,” Kiriakou said. He alleged that people would “take a shit anywhere they want” before pulling up their trousers and walking away.
He added that although he had travelled to poorer and more dangerous countries, he had “never been to a place as filthy as India”.
According to Kiriakou, the country’s large population was the primary reason for what he described as poor cleanliness.
Kiriakou also criticised India’s caste system, calling it “shocking”.
Recalling an incident from his stay, Kiriakou said he invited the driver assigned to him to join him for lunch at a restaurant. After waiting for about half an hour for the driver to come, Kiriakou said he stepped outside and found him still standing at the entrance.
According to Kiriakou, the driver told him the restaurant would not allow him to enter because he belonged to a lower caste. Kiriakou cited the incident as an example of what he described as unequal treatment under India’s caste system.
The comments were made during Kiriakou’s appearance on the One Night with Steiny podcast, where he reflected on his experiences travelling to different countries.
