Markandey Katju at it again: Former SC judge calls Mahatma Gandhi a rascal, British agent

In a Twitter exchange with senior journalist R Jagannathan, former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju ended up calling Mahatma Gandhi a 'rascal' and a 'British agent'. Katju, who is quite a controversy's child, on Wednesday, tweeted:Calling Partition a historical swindle and fraud by the British, Katju, in his tweet urged people to join IPBRA — Indo-Pakistan-Bangladesh Reunification (under a secular government) Association — a body formed by the former judge himself. Katju's statement started a war of words (of sorts) between him and the senior journalist. Katju had announced creation of IPBRA in this article published in The Huffington Post.

"We are really one nation, and were one since Mughal times. The Partition of India in 1947 on the basis of the bogus two-nation theory was a historical swindle by the British, which must now be undone, and we should reunite if we wish to prosper."

In response to Katju's tweet, Jagannathan replied saying that India would have been "ungovernable if there had been no partition. Consider the kind of veto powers Jinnah was demanding." Katju refuted the point raised by the journalist and said that 'Akhand Bharat' is an Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) concept and what he was proposing (by launching IPBRA) was a secular nation which does not "tolerate religious extremism, Hindu or Muslim." Katju has been a vocal proponent of secularism and ever since the Narendra Modi-led BJP came to power at the Centre, the former judge has been quite critical of the rising Hindu extremism in the country and has been at the receiving end of lot of flak from right-wing activists. As Jagannathan went on to argue that it was not practical to have a "secular" 'Akhand Bharat' in 1947, he added that partition was inevitable. Miffed at Jagannathan's tweet, Katju hit back with Katju, a vocal critique of the Father of the Nation, has on many occasions on social media criticised Mahatma Gandhi for taking decisions in the interest of the British.Not a first for KatjuThis is not the first time that Katju has expressed some rather controversial views on social media. The former judge has never shied away from speaking his mind, be it the mockery of Bihar residents or the government's demonetisation move. He has stuck his neck out on a range of issues to invite attention — and criticism.On Centre’s crackdown on black money and demonetisation moveOn JNU student leaders and on-campus agitation On Triple Talaq On Delhi's pollution and RamdevOn Arnab Goswami and his security On Samajwadi Party’s infightingOn Partition and PakistanOn Kashmir crisisOn NDTV India ban