Hooda backs khap panchayats on same-gotra marriages
By IANSThursday, June 3, 2010
ROHTAK - Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda Thursday indirectly extended his support to khap panchayats (kangaroo courts) which are demanding a complete ban on the marriages within the same gotra or ancestral lineage.
While expressing his views on same-gotra marriages, Hooda said: “In my view, marriages in the same gotra are not appropriate.”
“Khap panchayats work like social organisations in the state. We all expect them to work as per the law of the land,” said Hooda, on the sidelines of an event here.
Haryana khap panchayats, which are dominated by the Jat community, are pushing for a complete ban on marriages in the same sub-caste.
They are also demanding an amendment to the Hindu Marriage Act for the purpose.
Hooda’s statement assumes significance in the wake of the approaching panchayat elections, slated for June 6 and 12.
No political party in the state can afford to offend the Jat community as it forms a major chunk of the vote bank.
Last month, the main opposition party Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) also supported the khap panchayats’ call to amend the Hindu Marriage Act.
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June 3, 2010: 9:20 pm
Everyone, including Hooda has a democratic right to hold views that same gotra marriages are undesirable. It is not an exclusively a jat issue. It cuts across all the castes and communities in N. India. In a recent survey by HT, 77% were found to be against same gotra marriages. I am sure if a large survey is conducted across N. india ammong ALL the castes, the results will not be very different. Even in S. india, there will be many naysayers. In such a case, there is need to respect to public sentiment. |
RC Sharma