The News Minute | March 12, 2015 | 09:09 am IST
The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday adopted a resolution condemning retired Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju for calling Mahatma Gandhi a "British agent" and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose a "Japanese agent" in his blog Satyam Bruyat.
The Indian Express reports that the resolution, moved by chairman Hamid Ansari and adopted unanimously by voice vote, said, "This House expresses its unequivocal condemnation of the recent remarks of.. Markandey Katju, against the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, who led the Indian National Army for the freedom of the country."
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley also criticised Justice Katju's remarks calling it a "perverse statement", reports The Hindu. Jaitley also said that the remark reflected the present system of appointing Supreme Court judges with such mindsets and that "we are trying to change that [system]".
Justice Katju on Wednesday wrote a scathing post against the Rajya Sabha resolution condemning him. Saying that "A mere censure is no punishment", he writes, "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!"
Read Justice Katju's full post.
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. 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.
May I make a humble.suggestion to the Hon'ble Members of the House (because evidently they have run out of ideas). 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!