Khap softens stance on honour killing

Haryana’s khap leaders on Tuesday strongly opposed honour killings in a bid to smother criticism. They have also sought strict action against the practice of labeling wedded couple of the same gotra as brother and sister.

Haryana’s khap leaders on Tuesday strongly opposed honour killings in a bid to smother criticism. They have also sought strict action against the practice of labeling wedded couple of the same gotra as brother and sister.

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Besides, the leaders washed their hands off a move the Sarvjaatiya Mahasammelan had taken on Sunday to impose a fine on elected representatives. This development followed a HT report on Arya Samaj leader Swami Agnivesh panning the leaders of Haryana Arya Pratinidhi Sabha for chairing the khap proceedings.

The khap leaders, however, carried on with their social boycott of Union ministers Kumari Selja and Verappa Moily and president of Lok Jantantrik Party (LJP) Ram Vilas Paswan for airing their views against the demand to amend the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.

These decisions were taken at the Sarv Jat Sarv Khap Mahapanchayat held at Jind on Tuesday.

“Certain individuals had in our past meetings defended the practice of honour killing that we have disassociated from,” said Santosh Dahiya, chairperson of the women’s wing of the Mahapanchayat. “We have also demanded action against local panchayats that force a wedded couple to become siblings.”

But the umbrella body of the khaps favoured the ‘traditional’ ban on same gotra marriages and matrimonial alliances within a village or adjoining villages.