Why Justice Markandey Katju Avoids Political Contests in India
Financial and Cultural Barriers to Indian Elections
Religious Views and Their Impact on Election Viability
The Role of Conscience in Justice Katju’s Decision
- The Cost of Winning Elections: Money, Caste, and Communalism
- Conclusion: Standing by Personal Beliefs Over Political Power
Discover why Justice Markandey Katju, a retired Supreme Court judge, chooses not to enter politics or contest elections in India. In this candid analysis, Justice Katju shares his perspective on the immense financial cost of elections, religious and cultural dynamics, and the ethical challenges of Indian politics. His personal views reveal the challenges faced by those with strong principles in the political landscape.
By Justice Markandey Katju
Many people have asked me to enter politics and contest elections.
But contesting elections in India costs a huge amount of money ( some say over 10 crore, or 100 million, rupees for a Lok Sabha seat ), money which I do not have.
Moreover, if I do contest, I will be sure to lose, as no one will vote for me. Consider this :
Hindus, who are 80% of India's population, will not vote for me as I have said several times that there is nothing wrong in eating beef, and I eat it myself (where legally permitted, as in Kerala and Goa, or abroad). Almost the whole world eats beef. Are they all wicked people, while we Hindus alone are saints ?
I have also said that those who call cow 'gomata' (mother cow) have 'gobar' (cow dung) in their heads, for how can an animal be the mother of a human being? Some say that cow is a 'gomata' as she gives us milk to drink. But humans drink milk of goats, buffaloes, camels, yaks, deer, etc. Are all these animals to be worshipped and regarded as our mothers? I regard a cow no different from other animals, like a horse or a dog.
Muslims, who are 15% of India's population, will not vote for me as I have said several times that sharia, burqa, madrasas and maulanas should be banned, as these are feudal practices and institutions which must be suppressed if India is to progress, as the great Mustafa Kemal did in Turkey in the 1920s.
That leaves only Sikhs, Christians, Parsis, Jains etc, and these too may not vote for me, knowing that I am an atheist.
But if I turn around and suddenly become casteist or communal, and start inciting caste or religious hatred, I will get a lot of votes, as 80-90% of Indians are casteist/communal, with 'gobar' in their heads, and I may then even win the election.
So the only way I can win an election is by becoming casteist or communal, and corrupt, i.e. a rogue and a rascal, but I regret my conscience draws a line there.
(Justice Katju is a retired judge of the Supreme Court of।ndia. These are his personal views)
