Before Bihar-Kashmir combo deal, here’s what Markandey Katju offered

Former Supreme Court judge and commentator-at-large Markandey Katju is in the news again, this time for suggesting that Pakistan could get Kashmir if it agrees to take Bihar also as part of a “package deal”.

Former Supreme Court judge and commentator-at-large Markandey Katju is in the news again, this time for suggesting that Pakistan could get Kashmir if it agrees to take Bihar also as part of a “package deal”.

Retired Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju uses social media to express his views.

Just last week, Katju’s name trended on social media, after he said superstar Amitabh Bachchan has nothing in his head.

The mercurial ex-judge is no stranger to stoking rows, mostly through his posts on Facebook. HT brings his top eight controversial comments:

Kali magic: Responding to queries on Facebook on the best way to retaliate after the Uri attack, Katju said chanting the Kali Mantra – “the most powerful mantra to destroy enemies”-- a possible sarcastic take.

Gandhi a British agent: In a Facebook post last year, Katju called Mahatma Gandhi a “British agent who did great harm to India”. The former judge blamed Gandhi for furthering the British policy of divide-and-rule, emphasizing Hindu rituals and propagating reactionary economic policies. He also called Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose a “Japanese agent”, triggering a fierce backlash online.

Kashmiris are not fit for freedom: In August during the middle of the current turmoil in the Valley, Katju said Kashmiris are not “fit” for Azaadi (freedom), just as “children are not fit for driving licences”.

90% Indians fools: In his most famous (notorious?) comment four years ago, Katju described 90% Indians as “fools” whose minds are “full of superstitions, communalism and casteism”.

Mother Teresa fanatic: As India celebrated the canonization of Mother Teresa this month, Katju took on the iconic figure, calling her “reactionary semi educated fundamentalist, fanatic and fraud”.

IIT students selfish: Last year, Katju criticized students at IIT-Bombay, saying they were “utterly selfish” with “no patriotism or idealism”.’

SC judges “intellectually low”: In September, the former Supreme Court justice said most judges in India’s top court were “intellectually low” and this had made people lose faith in the judiciary. Earlier, he had called 50% of the SC judges “corrupt”.