Go to Pakistan! Justice Markandey Katju’s advise to Asaduddin Owaisi on exclusion of Ahmadiyyas from Muslim census

"If Ahmadiyyas believe that there was a prophet after Muhammad, are they cutting off anyone's head, are they chopping off anyone's limbs?"

New Delhi, Aug 12: Former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju is known for criticising both Hindu and Muslim fundamentalists. Justice Katju has embroiled himself in another controversy, as he chose to speak out against the majoritarian view of Muslims regarding Ahmadiyya community. Katju, known for his aggressive social media posts, blasted all those Muslims who have demanded the exclusion of Ahmadiyyas from the Muslim census. He has advised all of them to migrate to Pakistan, where Ahmadiyyas are officially considered non-Muslims, and unofficially treated as second class citizens. In his remark, Katju did not refrain from naming All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi, who has also voiced his apprehensions regarding the inclusion of Ahmadiyyas among the Muslims.

“If the Indian government does not accept the demand that Ahmadiyyas be declared as non Muslims, people who make such demands should consider migrating to Pakistan, where they will feel more comfortable. One is entitled to say that Ahmadiyyas are non Muslims, but why should the Government say this ? This is not Pakistan. India is a secular country,” Katju said. Important to note is that Ahmadiyyas, also noted as  were not considered as non-Muslims in Pakistan from its inception. Pakistan founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah had included them among Muslims at the time of the creation of the new nation. However, the constitutional amendments enacted by hardline theological dictator  Zia-ul-Haque turned them into non-Muslims in Pakistan.

The controversy regarding Ahmadiyyas was raked up when the Narendra Modi government released the 2011 census, in which they were listed as Muslims. Subsequently, a prominent Muslims outfit Majlis Tahaffuze Khatme Nabuwat (MTKN) demanded the government to exclude them from Muslims, as the Islamic conference of world ulemas in Mecca had unanimously agreed that they do not believe in at least one of the core fundamental beliefs of Islam. Their demand was supported by Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, who said, “Prophethood terminated with Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him whereas Qadianis (Ahmadiyyas) say the opposite.” Ahmadiyyas believe that their 19th century leader Ghulam Ahmad Qadian was the reincarnation of Prophet Muhammad, a belief which is severely objected by Muslims of all sects who regard Muhammad as the final messenger of Islam.

Katju condemned the Muslim outfit demanding the exclusion and the AIMIM president supporting them by saying, “A Muslim body, the Majlis Tahaffuze Khatme Nabuwat ( MTKM ), has demanded from the Central Government that the Ahmediyas be declared as non Muslims, and Owaisi, true to his nature, has jumped into the fray.”

“If Ahmadiyyas believe that there was a prophet after Muhammad, are they cutting off anyone’s head, are they chopping off anyone’s limbs?
Shias believe that the first three Caliphs ( Khalifas ), i.e. Abu Bakr, Umar and Usman, who are recognized by Sunnis, were usurpers. So should Shias also be declared as non Muslims?”

“All this shows the medieval bigotry and idiocy of certain people. Our Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, and any religion or sect is allowed freedom for its beliefs. This is not Pakistan where the Constitution was amended and Ahmediyas declared as non Muslims, and treated horribly.”