Cutting across party affiliations, the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday unequivocally condemned former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju for calling Mahatma Gandhi a British agent and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose a Japanese one. The House later passed a resolution moved by Chairman Hamid Ansari condemning these remarks. Some members demanded action against Katju.
The issue was raised during Zero Hour by SP member Naresh Agarwal, who said such remarks by a retired judge were unacceptable against the Father of the Nation. Ansari moved a resolution stating, “This House expresses its unequivocal condemnation of the recent remarks of the former judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Markandey Katju, against the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, who led the Indian National Army for the freedom of the country.” The House passed it by voice vote.
Earlier, leader of the House Arun Jaitley said he shared the anguish of the members and “outrightly condemned” it. “It is unquestionable that Gandhi probably has been the greatest citizen of India in the recent era,” he said, terming the role the Father of the Nation in freedom struggle as paramount and the single biggest contributor. Jaitley also termed Katju’s remarks as “perverse”.
Jaitley also said the Government is trying to change the present system of appointing Supreme Court judges as these remarks, according to him, were also reflective of the present system by which individuals with “this kind of mindset” get appointed as judges of the apex court. This, he said, speaks of the “weakness of the present system which we are trying to change”.
Katju dares RS to punish him
Hours later House resolution condemning his remarks, Justice Markandey Katju in a clear act of defiance dared the Rajya Sabha to punish him. In his facebook post he said, "A humble advice to the Rajya Sabha. O wonderful news! The Rajya Sabha (the upper House of the Indian Parliament) has passed a resolution condemning me! "But of course that is not enough.
I must also be punished for what I said about that fake who is called the Father of the Indian Nation, and that agent of the Japanese fascists," he added. "A mere censure is no punishment. So some of them wanted to strip me of the perks and facilities I have as a retired Supreme Court Judge. But then again that will require amendment of the rules, because after all I am indeed a retired Supreme Court Judge," he said.
"May I make a humble suggestion to the Hon'ble Members of the House. Just pass a resolution that immediately on my return to India I will be arrested and hanged, drawn and quartered without any trial. Na rahe baans na baje baansuri," Katju wrote.