Lok Sabha condemns Markandeya Katju's remarks against Mahatma Gandhi, Subhash Chandra Bose

NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha today condemned the controversial remarks of former Press Council of India Chairman Justice Markandeya Katju against Mahatma Gandhi and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, insisting that their contribution to the freedom struggle was unparalleled.

"The whole country revers the Father of the Nation and Netaji. The sacrifice and the contribution made by these two stalwarts in the country's freedom struggle is unparalleled", Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said in a resolution.

She said the remarks made by Katju, also a former Supreme Court Judge, against the two leaders were "unbecoming" of him. "This House condemns his remarks", she added.

The resolution came hours after the issue was raised by Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav (RJD) in the Zero Hour. He said there was need for the House to pass a resolution condemning the former Supreme Court judge over his blog.

In the blog, Katju had called Mahatma Gandhi a British agent and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose a Japanese one.

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge and AIADMK leader P Venugopal sought a resolution condemning Katju, while Kalyan Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress went a step further. He wanted Home Minister Rajnath Singh to ensure that a criminal case is filed against the former judge for the "hate speech".

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy said the government shared the anguish of members on the issue and the House could have a resolution.