Many politicians have demanded that Justice Markandey Katju be tried for sedition.
Highlights
- Controversy over Justice Katju's Facebook post
- He said Pak can have Kashmir but only if it takes Bihar too
- Chief Minister Nitish Kumar hits out, asks "do you own Bihar?"
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, smarting over what he has perceived as a huge insult to his state, wants to know if former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju is "the mai baap (parents) and owner of Bihar."
The Chief Minister did not name Justice Katju at a public function in Patna today, but there was little ambiguity about who he was referring to.
Over the weekend, Justice Katju used Facebook to share his opinion about the aggravated tension between India and Pakistan over the recent violence and unrest in Kashmir, described by Pakistan as "a freedom movement."
"We offer you Kashmir, but on the condition you also take Bihar. It is a package deal. You have to take the whole package, or none at all,"
Justice Katju posted.
The Chief Minister reacted by challenging the former judge's rights to dispense with his state - even in jest.
Leaders from his party as well as the opposition BJP have demanded that Justice Katju be tried for sedition.
Mr Kumar and the retired judge do not share a record of getting along. In 2012, as head of the Press Council of India, Justice Katju accused Mr Kumar of trying to curtail the media's freedom.
He recently also criticised Mr Kumar's controversial and strident prohibition policy.