Peacemaker Mahesh Bhatt

With his remarks over the beard and the Taliban triggering an outrage in the Muslim community,Supreme Court Judge Markandey Katju is quietly reaching out to Muslim leaders to quell their anger. Katju has found an emissary in filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt,who spoke to a senior Jamaat-e-Islami Hind leader on his behalf,and conveyed that the Judge was secular and had no intentions of hurting the feelings of the community. The Judge8217;s peace moves came after an earlier attempt by Law Commission member Tahir Mahmood to end the controversy failed. Mahmoods remarks emphasising Katju8217;s secular credentials,after meeting him along with his Supreme Court lawyer son Saif Mahmood,had only added fuel to the fire. With the Jamaat leader appearing somewhat convinced by Bhatts arguments,it seems the issue will be given a quiet burial now.