Congress on Wednesday sought an explanation from party MP Naveen Jindal for his remarks favouring the khap panchayats in Haryana and the praise he had showered on the controversial extra constitutional bodies. "I have sought an explanation," AICC General Secretary in-charge of Haryana Prithviraj Chavan told reporters in New Delhi when asked what the party had done in the wake of the young leader heaping encomiums over the caste councils of Haryana.

The explanation was sought after the Kurukshetra MP praised the works of these caste councils at a khap mahapanchayat at Kaithal in Haryana and extended support to their demand to amend the Hindu Marriage Act to prohibit same sub-caste (gotra) marriages.

Congress sources later said Jindal has given an explanation to the party.

"He (Jindal) has given an explanation. He is not in support of them. The party has already made its stand clear and the matter is closed now," a senior party leader said.