77 per cent oppose same gotra marriages: HT survey

Even as the government proposes tougher laws against honour killings sanctioned by khap panchayats, a survey carried out by Hindustan Times in Haryana shows most people are against same gotra marriages. What are khap panchayats?| Strong dissaproval

Even as the government proposes tougher laws against honour killings sanctioned by khap panchayats, a survey carried out by Hindustan Times in Haryana shows most people are against same gotra (sub-caste) marriages.

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The survey shows as many as 77 per cent of the respondents do not support same gotra marriages. The survey was carried out in Chandigarh, Rohtak, Jind, Bhiwani and Kurukshetra. Surprisingly, even in Chandigarh, 65 per cent of the respondents have opposed same gotra marriages.

Thirty four per cent of the respondents have said that khap panchayats have the right to order the social boycott of a couple if it violates same gotra marriage rules.

The issue of khap panchayats and honour killings related to same-gotra marriage has taken political turn with Congress MP from Kurukshetra Naveen Jindal and the INLD's Om Prakash Chautala both speaking in favour of the demand of khap panchayats for a change in marriage laws.

The panchayats want to outlaw same gotra marriages.